Bad things happen to good people that they may grow better, nobler, purer. Even as gold is burnt in the crucible to be cleansed of its dross, even so good people are chosen to burn in the fire of suffering, and so became pure as thrice-burnished gold.
Wealth and pleasures and power and honour are not as good as they seem to be. In many cases they degrade and make man corrupt. In our ancient books there is the suggestive story of Kunti. She had to ask for a boon of Lord Krishna. What she asked was that she might have some little suffering all the time. In suffering, she said, the Lord is remembered; in pleasures and enjoyment he is forgotten.
How true it is that suffering purifies! Not many know the value of suffering. It was an Indian saint who prayed, “Lord grant me starvation and sickness and suffering and ignominy!” These are the things that are of real value to those that know. This type of suffering is for our good. We do not understand this until we have cast all thought of self aside. When the self is forgotten, we behold the loving hand of God in every circumstance of life.
Everything that happens, works for our good. The seeming cruelty and injustice of men, their selfishness and ruthless disregard of values we hold dear, are seen to be the result of God’s infinite goodness and unfailing love.
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