We all face trials, pain and hardship in life.  Our God is not a God who is far away from all that, but one who is with us in the midst of this.  James 1 tells us to consider it joy when we face these hardships, yet it is not easy to do this.  If we do, we can allow God to shape us more into the loving, kind and generous people He wants us to be.  If we choose to turn to Him in our suffering, He can make good out of everything.