Hardship produces spiritual growth when we respond with a committed, teachable, and surrendered heart.

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Psalms 34:1-7

God promises that when we face challenging times, He will be with us. He wants to be our teacher and guide, but we must position ourselves to respond to Him. We need to …

• Have a longing to follow God’s way. Scripture compares such yearning to a deer panting for water (Psalm 42:1). The same should be true of us each time we wait for God’s direction instead of acting on our own.

• Be willing to be taught by the Lord. When we look to Him for guidance, He will transform our adversities into times of learning. Such was the case with Hannah as she pleaded for a child (1 Samuel 1:1-28; 1 Samuel 2:1-10). It was also true for Mary and Martha when their brother Lazarus died (John 11:17-27). We need willing spirits if we are to learn what God wants to teach us.

• Yield to His will. Before we know God’s solution, He asks us to commit ourselves to His way. The Lord calls us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) and to acknowledge that we are helpless without Him (John 15:5). To declare commitment to His way is always best.

Troubles are an unwelcome fact of life, but they can have value. God will see us through them all. He asks only that we have a tender heart, a teachable spirit, and a yielded will.