The place of trouble...

Our troubles are frequently the instruments the Holy Spirit employs to carry on His sacred work in our hearts. By troubles, He . . .

    empties us of self,

    weans us from the world, and

    endears Jesus and His salvation to us!

James Smith

I guess we sometimes forget these truth, that "God is never so gracious to us as when He seems most severe', that all things work together for good to them that love God;  that there is a lot ( within us ) to be transformed and changed, and perhaps a lot that will need to die too. 

To love the Lord Jesus Christ represents a gain everyday (the greatest of all gains), but implies many losses, and many undesirable crosses. 

However once one understands the meaning and importance of trouble, life will become more joyful, it will be less focused in self; it will suffer under the severest trouble yet it will do the only thing GOD has called us to do: 

Look to Jesus.

Go forward! 

through Christ