Tough times are important elements of growth and change. They teach us a lot of things about ourselves, about people and life in general. They reveal to us a reservoir of inner strength and resources we have never recognised before.
Surprisingly, tough times challenge our priorities and values, strip us of self-sufficiency and impel us to reflect and discern what truly matters in life. Loss, for instance in whatever form or intensity allows us to to see the value of persons, relationships, things or opportunities we may have taken for granted.
Tough times reveal to us our truest friends and faithful allies; those who care deeply as well as the fickle ones. Tough times also force us to see our own flaws and shortcomings and spur us to evaluate the course we are heading and the choices we are making.
Most importantly, tough times drive us to our knees. As we search for answers to the many baffling questions in life, we are led to the audiece chamber of the omniscient one. With humility and contrition we begin to acknowledge our human limitations and his divine authority and we are revived, strengthened and enlightened.
Tough times are distressing and annoying but they can be our bridges for growth, avenues for change, and instruments for our refinement.
