“For sometimes pain is more beneficial to a person than health, tension more useful than relaxation, and rebuke more helpful than leniency. So let us not become overconfident in good times, nor despair and break down in misfortune.” — Gregory of Nazianzus
It is a lesson that is not always easy for us to learn, for our nature loves the simple and uncomplicated path to our goal, and the things mentioned do not seem to fit into that. Actually, that was not the original intention, but life outside of Paradise, with its consequences, has brought it about. The shadows of death accompany us everywhere; our Father has not removed them, but in His wisdom, He uses them to forge a deeper path for us to master our journey into eternity.
Nevertheless, we must first train ourselves in this through trust in God and overcome certain fears, inner accusations, and various difficulties of body and soul—which are sometimes directly linked. This leads to greater spiritual strength, because we do not abandon ourselves to them but seek help from our Father. Our lives are guided by our Father along these paths in such a way that they serve His purpose for us. Often, however, we only realize this later. Yet from this experience we should learn to make the acts of faith that are necessary in adverse circumstances more readily.
Yet it is not only for the sake of spiritual growth that God allows afflictions. Thus, St. Gregory points out that the Lord might otherwise be easily forgotten or even despised:
“For a sorrowful soul is close to God, and distress leads to the One who can give and help, but who would surely be despised if He were to help always and without restriction.”