Have you heard that whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger? This isn’t true. There are things that will make you weaker even if you survive them. But it is true that adversity is necessary for development. You gain strength physically by exertion, and you gain strength in other ways by overcoming. This process works better if it is intentional and directed, and so you have coaches and teachers and trainers to guide you. Do you see me as performing this role in your life? You know that fathers chasten their sons and my chastening of you is evidence of my acceptance of you.

Do you believe in a world of abundance? Do you think there is enough for everyone? Do you resent the rich, thinking that they have more than their share, and that they obtained it by unjust means from the poor, and that if they would just be more generous with what I have given them there would be enough for everyone? Do you think this argument applies only to those who have more than you, and not to those with less who consider you to be rich? When I created a world of abundance, I knew in advance that some would have more than others and allowed for that.

Do you like to keep your options open? Who wouldn’t want to give themselves the maximum freedom to choose for as long as possible? Do you believe in commitment? Can you see that these are opposite concepts? Have you had the frustration of trying to organize an activity and get people involved? Organizing an event is an implied promise of your own involvement. Others can remain indecisive, or commit. Which of these do you consider to be the more admirable trait? Commitment constrains your liberty to decide in the moment, but liberty is not an ultimate value.

Do you see your faith as unchanging, or do you see yourself on a journey of continuing revelation? You can start with the first position, and shift to the second over time. Would it be arrogant to assume that you got complete comprehension of everything at the first? This position closes you off from learning and growth. It is more difficult to revisit issues the harder you cling to them. If you ever have to revise your understanding you will find it is easier to do if you hold it with a loose grip.