The Father does indeed mature us through hardships. We notice the wisdom of those who have endured through trials, and we are struck by the immaturity of those who try to keep suffering at bay through drugs, alcohol, porn, or some other self-soothing tactic. But we don’t make a one-to-one connection between a particular sin and a particular hardship. Jesus himself matured under hardship; we will too. As we suffer, our hearts are exposed. We can see where we put our trust: in people, money, pleasure, and power—or in God.
