Out of the fires of suffering, the human spirit may emerge as precious a gold and as strong as steel. Ninth, suffering nurtures the noblest virtues of which mankind is capable. Reflect for a moment upon the quality of courage. Courage may be defined as the ability to act rationally in the face of fear. When we sit down to a delicious dinner with friends and loved ones on a balmy autumn evening, no courage is needed.
Courage arises in the presence of danger.
There are certain qualities that we simply cannot possess in the absence of hardship. Without friction our cars would not start and our spirits would not soar. Tenth, suffering separates the superficial from the stable. Paul cautioned the Corinthian saints against building up the church superficially. Jesus once spoke of those who receive the gospel impulsively, and, for a while endure.