The journey to become more spiritual doesn’t happen without some kind of pain. In order to grow, we have to confront any number of challenges.
Think of the process like this. If you place a piece of coal on the table, it will remain a piece of coal. If you want to create a diamond, however, that coal must be placed under tons of pressure; it is only with this pressure that it becomes a diamond.
The same thing happens with us. When we confront challenges and difficulties in life—when we are put under pressure, we can grow and advance on our spiritual path. When we really work for something, we can truly appreciate what we have accomplished and where we are when we finally reach the end game.