Life’s Adversities Help Us Grow
On a straight road with no curves, the driver may fall asleep and crash the car.
God makes his good servants go through more hardships and adversities than others.
According to a Hadith from Imam Sadiq (AS), among people, messengers of God, and then their companions and followers, receive the most adversities in life.
Through difficulties and hardships, God helps His servants to grow. Not only hardships but also remembering them play a constructive role in one’s growth.
The Quran tells the Holy Prophet (PBUH): “Did He (God) not find you an orphan and give you shelter? Did He not find you a wanderer so He guided you? And did He not find you in need and make you rich?” (Verses 6-8 of Surah Ad-Dhuha)
God then says: “Therefore, as for the orphan, do not oppress (him) and do not reject the beggars.” (Verses 9-10 of Surah Ad-Dhuha)
So God considers reminding people of past adversities as being effective in man’s growth.
God says in Verse 42 of Surah Al-An’am: “We had sent (Our guidance) to the nations who lived before you and afflicted them with distress and adversity so that they might submit themselves (to God).”
The same thing has been emphasized in Verse 94 of Surah Al-An’aam.
According to Hadith, if man did not face poverty, illnesses and death, he would become rebellious ad arrogant.
Sometimes, hardships are necessary for tempering one’s mentality and removing conceit. While too much welfare and joy make people grow aimless and insolent, adversities help them become steadfast and resilient.
That is why Imam Hassan Askari (AS) says there is goodness in hardships.
The difficulties and adversities we face in life are keys to our move toward perfection.
