Think “happy thoughts” and everything will be okay. As I’m sure you know, it doesn’t usually work that way. Life can be tough. Sometimes happy thoughts are hard to find – even harder to believe. God doesn’t promise a life of ease, a life free of suffering. Just think how shallow we would be if life was always easy, if we were always healthy and wealthy and comfortable. I believe God’s purposes are much greater than our personal comfort. Since the Garden of Eden, God’s greatest purpose has been to restore relationship. Sometimes, or most times, that comes through suffering. When we find we are out of answers, hope, strength, or resources, when we are empty, we turn to Him. When we’ve lost everything, we find that He is all we need. It is in our suffering our relationship with Him grows the most. At least that is what I have found true in my life.