Not only do joys build up our souls, but experiencing suffering also strengthens us and leads us closer to the Father. Throughout history, we have witnessed events that show how suffering can also build up lives.

Father Eustáquio wrote about the value of suffering. Read the following text:

The usefulness of suffering

The human soul is often like a flower that raises its corolla in sunny weather but droops when the wind blows. Many souls are cheerful when at peace; however, when any adversity arrives, they lose all courage. Let us see how we have every reason to keep our souls at peace, even in tribulations. These even enrich our souls. The Holy Doctors of the Church say: He who lives in prosperity has never experienced adversity, knows nothing about the state of his soul, and will be troubled by many temptations of pride, vainglory, covetousness for more riches, honors, and many pleasures. Now, we are freed from all these temptations by adversity, which at the same time makes us humble and content in the state in which God Our Lord has placed us.

King David, living in prosperity, occasionally forgot God's law, but as soon as he suffered persecution at the hands of his son, he began to weep for his sins and converted with all his heart to Our Lord..

Moreover, tribulations open our eyes, which prosperity had veiled.

The great Napoleon, living amidst victories, had no other ideal than the conquest of the world. When he was defeated and exiled, the veil fell from his eyes; he saw the vanity of this world and began to follow the true and worthy ideal of man: the salvation of his soul..

The prodigal son remembered his father's house when he was forced to live in poverty. More than the penances we freely choose, the miseries of life lead us back to the feet of our Heavenly Father..