Not only are hurts inevitable, they are necessary. Animals suffer hurts. But only humans become morally and spiritually better because of them. Our walk in the world is often painful. Jesus experienced pain as a result of His time in the world. He suffered rejection, betrayal, injustice, slander, scorn, physical torture and the cruel death of the cross. He is the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Our sinful nature is hostile to God. It was and is impossible for Him to walk with us without being wounded. It is also impossible for us to walk with Him without being wounded. Walking together requires agreement (Amos 3:3; 1John 1:7). As a saint who sins, I must bear the sting of His rebuke.

The most 'exquisite hurts', in the words of Oswald Chambers, are the hurts of Jesus. They are faithful wounds (Proverbs 27:6). They save us from superficiality and bring us to greater spiritual maturity. Note the words of the Psalm 119: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." (v 67); "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." (v. 71); "I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me." (v 75). In God's order of things, the hurts we experience can be the means of awakening us, shaping and refining us. He can turn our pains into gains, our scars into stars - (credentials for service), and cause the things that would make us bitter, make us better.

From the perspective of faith, difficulties are miracles that have not yet happened. Problems are just opportunities dressed up in work clothes. Let's learn to welcome adversity as a friend who will do us the favor of promoting the expression of Christ in us. The smug and self-satisfied do not see their need for growth. But those hungry for God will see each struggle as a means of bringing them into a deeper relationship with the Lord, orientating us to spiritual reality and propelling us towards Christ-like maturity (Philippians 3:10).

"He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet." (Proverbs 27:7 NIV).

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that, under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:2, The Message, paraphrase by Eugene Peterson).

Determine not to waste your sorrows,