Spiritual Corner - The Advantage of Adversity

It is good for us to have sometimes some troubles and adversities; for they often make a man enter into himself, that he may know that he is in exile, and may not place his hopes in any worldly thing. It is good for us sometimes to suffer contradictions, and to allow people to think ill and disparagingly of us, even though we do well and mean well. These things often help us to be humble, and shield us from vainglory. For then we are more ready to seek God as our inward witness, when outwardly we are despised by men and are not believed.

Therefore ought a man so to establish himself in God, that he need not seek many comforts from men. When a man of good will is troubled or tempted, or afflicted with evil thoughts, then he understands better the great need he has of God, without whom he perceives he can do nothing that is good. Then also he sorrows, he complains, and he prays by reason of the miseries which he suffers. Then he is weary of living longer, and wishes that death would come, that he might be dissolved and be with Christ. Then also he well perceives that perfect security and full peace cannot be realized in this world.

Yours,
Fr. John Wang
<Excerpt from The Imitation of Christ, Book 1, Chapter 12>