moral character gets formed through hardship, through overcoming obstacles, through enduring despite difficulties. Courage, for example, would be impossible in a world without pain. The apostle Paul testified to this refining quality of suffering when he wrote that 'suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.'13

The point of our lives in this world isn't comfort, but training and preparation for eternity. Scripture tells us that even Jesus 'learned obedience through suffering14—and if that was true for him, why wouldn't it be even more true for us?

just about every human being can reflect on his or her past and say, 'I learned from that hardship. I didn't think I would at the time, but I'm a bigger and better person for having endured it and persevered.

Ease and luxury, such as our affluence brings us today, do not make for maturity; hardship and struggle do

Vincit qui patitur [he who suffers conquers].

Consider anything, only don't cry!

Why, there's hardly enough of me left to make ONE respectable person!

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. —MARGARET THATCHER At

Battles are the proving grounds of what you already have put into practice.

For perfect hope is achieved on the brink of despair, when instead of falling over the edge, we find ourselves walking on air.

You have not failed until you quit trying.

The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that launch us into periods of intense spiritual growth