Hidden Tests in Life
What Do the Tests in Life Teach Us?
There are some hidden tests in life; they play important roles in the development of our inner being. These tests teach us to what extent we can see the truth, and to awaken the unawakened, unsupported, unused forces within us.
The challenges of living in great freedom or under heavy despotism for a period of time, experiencing great successes or constant defeats, the disappointment we feel in someone we love, the opportunity to take revenge on an enemy as we desire, or achieving great success at the cost of a small sacrifice to our honor — all of these are tests for us.
Some people consider them to be coincidences.
However, those who have a deep-rooted desire for development see the meaning and reason of tests, and challenges better, and they strive to emerge from them with honor.
- F.W. Foerster
Do people think once they say, “We believe,” that they will be left without being put to the test?
We have made some of you a trial for others. Will you not then be patient?
And We test you O humanity with good and evil as a trial.
- Al-’Ankabut 2, Al-Furqan 20, Al-Anbya 35
Anything which is troubling you, anything which is irritating you, THAT is your teacher.
- Ajahn Chah
Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps there is no solid obstacle except our own need to protect ourselves from being touched. If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we find the very same problem waiting for us when we arrive. It just keeps returning with new names, forms, and manifestations until we learn whatever it has to teach us about where we are separating ourselves from reality, how we are pulling back instead of opening up, closing down instead of allowing ourselves to experience fully whatever we encounter, without hesitating or retreating into ourselves.
- Pema Chödrön
In the following video, you’ll listen to a woman who was not successful during her first 26 years in the world school.
I want to let you in on a little secret. There are no problems. There never were any problems, there are no problems today, and there will never be any problems. Problems just mean that the world isn’t turning the way you want it to. But in truth, there are no problems. Everything is unfolding as it should. Everything is right. You have to forget about yourself and expand your consciousness until you become the whole universe. The Reality in the back of the universe is Pure Awareness. It has no problems. And you are That.
- Robert Adams
The Work of Byron Katie and her books can be valuable tools for recognizing that things are unfolding as they should, that everything is as it should be, and for achieving success in the challenges and tests we face.
This article provides further information on Byron Katie for those interested.
With Love🙏
