From "Difficulties" to Blessings!

The lines in today's devotional about seeing difficulties as blessings was discussed in a recent class of mine. The book we are using suggested that when we deal with difficulties (including difficult people) that we immediately see it as a learning experience and say to ourselves "School is in session!" At first I thought this a bit frivolous but then I began understanding the idea.

It has always been a challenge to me to think of problems as blessings. I can remember times in my life when there was one major, life-altering event after another. When a pastor quoted a part of Romans 5:1-5, about sufferings building character, I could only say to him that I felt my character already had enough of a workout! I couldn't see it then but I now understand that this passage holds some powerful truths but ones that have taken years for me to grasp!

Another scripture passage that seems to relate to today's reading is Romans 8:28: "In all things, God works for good for those who love the Lord, for those who are called according to His purpose." It doesn't say to me that God causes everything to happen but that good can come from whatever happens as long as God is Present with us. 

Do you have stories to share about how difficulties have turned to blessings in your life?