Why does God want strong souls?

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Thank you.

Do you think that people are unwilling to suffer much in modern times?

Things like, turning the other cheek for example which may require a seeming loss of face?

Perhaps ingratitude towards working people who may be late delivering a service or who may have produced shoddy workmanship, it seems people are quick to blame and seek material compensation, rather than simply put up with it?

Similarly, are people less likely to suffer admonishment and instead retaliate quickly instead of showing forebearance?
 
Several saints have said something to this effect:
“Love is the willingness to suffer [for the sake of the beloved]”
human example: a woman willing to bear a child, in love for her child;
a saint willing to die for a stranger, for Christ’s sake.
divine example: Jesus on the Cross
Why? - Self-gift is the divine way of loving.
 
Thank you.
So up to point suffering can increase our strength but why does God want strong souls do you think?
 
From
http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-p.../hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris.html

Thank you @JamalChristophr

‘Man suffers on account of evil, which is a certain lack, limitation or distortion of good. We could say that man suffers because of a good in which he does not share, from which in a certain sense he is cut off, or of which he has deprived himself. He particularly suffers when he a ought"—in the normal order of things—to have a share in this good and does not have it.

Thus, in the Christian view, the reality of suffering is explained through evil, which always, in some way, refers to a good. ‘

The lack of a good may be when say, I take exception to something someone has said, I’m lacking several good qualities perhaps and lacking those causes me to suffer anger, mental agitation etc.
 
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God wants strong souls that can withstand the sufferings and problems of this world without losing faith.

God also wants humble souls who will grow in wisdom and not stray off the narrow road.

Because in the end, God wants all souls to end up in heaven with him.
 
So it’s the qualities that people will attain through suffering which will improve the soul?

I am wondering though, why would God want souls with these qualities rather than basic ordinary souls?
 
Because basic ordinary souls are not basic ordinary souls as seen through God’s eyes. He knows we are capable of a lot more than we give ourselves credit for.

Have you ever read The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings? In it, hobbits are the heroes. They are the simple basic ordinary souls that are capable of a lot of heroism and valor.

Remember, a diamond is a piece of coal that did well under pressure. God can redeem the not so great things in this world and bring good out of it, because in the end good will overcome evil.

Have you ever heard of the word eucatastrophe? It means the sudden turn to good in the midst of evil. In the fall of man, the eucatastrophe was the Incarnation and the Resurrection. Good overcoming evil.
 
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Yes, but who was responsible for you becoming a white teddy bear, hmmm?
 
Perhaps it was the snow queen? Or is that a different story.

Speaking of snow queen do we tolerate discomfort less now than in the days of many of the saints who embraced self denial?

Central heating, warm clothes, plenty everywhere we in the West look. Has this high standard of living resulted in a lower capacity for tolerance in many different ways?
 
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I take full responsibility for that.

It’s my ice and snow powers, sort of like Elsa in Frozen, but in bear form.

😊
 
Probably.

You tend to take creature comforts for granted if you were never without them.

I spent some time in a poor country. I still am grateful for the miracle of indoor plumbing and for the gift of going to sleep without worrying about fleeing for your life anytime soon.
 
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When I was young we didn’t have a lot of these comforts.

Since the flesh is in opposition to soul as St Paul tells us are our modern comforts and conveniences actually harmful, and if they detract from our efforts to spiritually develop are they actually…evils in disguise?
 
No they are not evils in disguise.

They are morally neutral.

They should not stand in your way of attaining spiritual maturity.
 
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Well a lot of saints and blesseds shunned comforts of any kind to help them mortify the flesh so to speak. I’m not speaking of flagellation etc but of wearing course plain cloth, washing with cold water and even eating slightly rotten fish to mortify the pallet.

I’m not saying we should all freeze to death but we do cling to our comforts and prefer prayer, sacraments and perhaps charitable works in preference to physical discomforts.
 
Lee1 said:
How heavy a cross should we be willing to bear?
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We don’t actually have a choice here. We get what we get. And that holds true whatever religion (or not) we are.

I can only share what my own response is—after concentrating on making my Advent focused on the spiritual, I’m on a course of gratitude and surrender.
I have stuff in my life right now that I would never choose and would gladly leave behind, but as long as I have to endure it, and I have no control over (and limited influence), I’ve been making the concerted effort to thank God every day, for everything I can, and sometimes I’ve even thanked Him for my cross .
I’m also in the process of learning how to surrender my loved ones to His care, considering He loves them more than I do, anyhow.
It’s a work in progress, like weeding out a garden everyday, rather than a “road to Damascus” style event.
 
Thank you Oscarlet, I wish you well with your burdens.

In how heavy a cross should we be willing to bear, I’m talking specifically of situations where we can extricate ourselves from suffering but choose instead to persevere for spiritual growth.

This idea is what caused me some upset today, because people became very emotional over situations they imagined such as putting up with an abusive relationship for example. It’s easy to imagine an extreme case of this and become angry that anyone should suggest we tolerate that situation for any reason, but imagining less severe or extremes should we endeavour to persevere to some extent for the possible spiritual gains?

I should say that people are quick to label things abuse in modern times, which I think is a softening of our tolerance to conflict perhaps. Again, I’m not suggesting anyone stay in a dangerous or physical relationship!
 
Lee1 said:
In how heavy a cross should we be willing to bear, I’m talking specifically of situations where we can extricate ourselves from suffering but choose instead to persevere for spiritual growth.
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I would say that there’s nothing wrong from taking a break and stepping back for a while if the conflict is taking a toll on your physical health. Like for instance, a person might be in a really negative work environment other job options simply aren’t there, it’s okay to take some PDOs for a mental health break.
 
Fasting does it for me.

My excessive fondness for food is my weakness, so fasting as mortification is good for me.
 
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