If you lay a block of ice and a block of clay in the sun, one is melted and the other is hardened. The same circumstance produces opposite results. The story is told of two sons of an alcoholic. One son became a drunkard, the other became a teetotaler. The same problem produced opposite results.
Trials defeat some people but strengthen others.
It depends on how we deal with them. Suffering Keeps Us Humble and Dependent on God. God has repeatedly allowed countries to face wars, famines, and hardships when they became independent and failed to trust Him. Often this shows people their need for God. From weaknesses, God can produce great strength.