It may feel like torture...

but I believe it's the Lord's way of shaping us into who He made us to be.

I wrote this post a while back, but never posted it. I'm not sure why. Hopefully the point will still be well received, even if you are fortunate enough to not currently be going through a trial.
 

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
 

Examples:

 

I suspect that He is allowing a long road to parenthood because He is making us into divinely patient people.

 

I suspect that the road I thought would be straight and easy has turned out to be a windy and bumpy thrill ride because He wants me to throw my hands up on the roller coaster of life that I have not designed.  He has.

 

I suspect that He uses droughts (both literal and figurative) to make us that much more joyful and appreciative when it finally rains.  After the intense drought we've been in here in Texas,  I can openly and unashamedly admit that I break into an ear to ear grin when it rains now.  I'm giddy about it!

 

So, even though you feel like you are being drug through the mud, think about how nice it will feel when you are all cleansed of the mud.  There's nothing like that fresh out of the shower feeling when you get really gritty.