Trials
The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. (Chinese proverb)
“No pain, no gain,” they say about exercise and fitness. That’s not much of an incentive, is it? Yet, we have all learned that it’s from times of stress and difficulty that we learn so much about life and perseverance. We certainly don’t want to look for difficult situations, but when they come—and they certainly will, ask God for patience and endurance.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance (Romans 5:3).