There is no way around the fact that human spiritual progress requires pain. Conversely, a life of ease and affluence is a surefire recipe for spiritual immaturity. And a related truth is what M. Scott Peck discovered in his research for The People of the Lie: evil only responds to the power of blunt force.
A chapter-a-day podcast from Ezekiel 24. The text version may be found and shared at tomvanderwell.com.
