“The Creators are possessed of full power to make Urantia [Earth] a veritable Paradise, but such an Eden would not contribute to the development of those strong, noble, and experienced characters which the Gods are so surely forging out on your world between the anvils of necessity and the hammers of anguish. Your anxieties and sorrows, your trials and disappointments are just as much a part of the divine plan on your sphere as are the exquisite perfection and infinite adaptation of all things to their supreme purpose on the worlds of the central and perfect universe. [UB 23:2.12]

Teacher: “Dear ones, you live in a time when your life abounds in challenging situations—unforeseen twists and turns.  You seem to move from one to the next, wondering when such a cycle will end, doing your best to catch your breath in what appears to be rare moments or respite.

Yet, I would invite you today to look at it from a different perspective.  Ask yourself how you are changed by these life’s events.  Look at your life from the standpoint of your spiritual victories over such challenges.  You are then able to see how mighty they were in your personal transformation.

Any challenge that comes up in your life boils down to two options: Will you face it courageously, without complaining?  Or will you host a pity party for yourself, wallowing in unproductive emotions?

Challenges are meant to bring out the best in you—not the worse.  It may seem a paradox, as you suffer through them.  What is the best they bring out?  FAITH!  Faith is the strong foundation needed to build your house in heaven.  Think about it for a moment.

A strong house needs a strong foundation.  In spiritual matters, Faith can be compared to the hard and enduring foundation of your spiritual being—a foundation in concrete.  Faith is what allows you to sustain emotional tsunamis and yet remain solidly anchored spiritually.  Faith is not a figment of your imagination, an invisible crutch.  It is a powerful link to the Divine Hand that is constantly outreached to hold you up when it seems that your whole universe is crumbling under your feet. 

Dear ones, even ‘the faith of a mustard seed’ is mightily powerful.  As you grow in your own faith, you are becoming empowered beings!  Indeed, your power comes at a cost and this is the reason why your faith is constantly being tested and graded from above.  As you pass each test of faith, you are earning more spiritual stripes and qualify to be handed more personal responsibilities, thus being incrementally promoted to even higher service.”