It is not a religious act that makes the Christian, but participation in the sufferings of God in the secular life. That is metanoia [repentance]: not in the first place thinking about one's own needs, problems, sins, and fears, but allowing one's self to be caught up into the way of Jesus Christ .... Pain is a holy angel ... Through him men have become greater than through all the joys of the world ... The pain of longing, which can often be felt physically, must be there, and we shall not and need not talk it away. But it needs to be overcome every time, and thus there is an even holier angel than the one of pain, that is the one of joy in God.
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison
Through our trials we have the opportunity to grow stronger in Christ and that pleases Him. Altough we do not look for trials, we can rely on the fact that the Holy Spirit is with us and protects from harm. At times this may be hard to see or understand, but when we are able to look back on the trial and have been able to see the "Big Picture" we the realize His oversight.
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