Forged by fire: Why the beloved suffer most
How Divine Love manifests through life's hardest trials
“Life is difficult...but you are loved.”
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse
I first read this book to my children last year.
Over the Christmas break we watched the beautiful animated story on TV.
It’s a simple yet profound story, filled with wisdom that speaks to all ages, kids and adults alike.
This quote in particular stood out to me.
At first, it’s deeply comforting. Who wouldn’t want to be reminded of love during tough times? Struggle can feel extra hard if you're lonely, after all.
But the more I thought about it, the more I felt the need to reframe it.
What if life is difficult BECAUSE you are loved?
Think of it this way:
Would you neglect something precious, something full of potential, just to keep it safe and unchanged? No, you nurture it and help it grow.
Love doesn’t coddle. Love refines.
Love sharpens edges, presses diamonds out of coal, and burns away impurities until only the extraordinary remains.
This is why the most beloved endure the hardest trials.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) endured more than anyone else.
Aisha (RA) said, “I never saw anyone suffer as much as Allah's Apostle.” (Bukhari, 7:70:549)
Did you know he buried six of his seven children, faced ridicule from his own people, and went hungry for days on end?
And yet, he was the most beloved.
On the flipside, in one striking hadith, a man who had never experienced illness approached the Prophet. When asked about fevers or headaches, the man replied that he’d never had either. The Prophet then remarked:
"Whoever wishes to see a man destined for the Fire, let them look at this man."
Why? Because hardship isn’t punishment. It's a sign.
Hardship is proof of His love.
A sign that you are being shaped, refined, and prepared for something greater.
“Just as gold is heated to extract valuable elements, it is through the fire of our trials that our golden essence is unearthed.” - A. Helwa, Secrets of Divine Love
Struggle is Allah’s way of shaping you, pushing you, preparing you.
Even the saints understood this:
"Sudden distress heralds feast days for one who aspires." – Ibn Ata’allah
But here’s the thing:
The fire only transforms you if you accept it.
Resisting the test only prolongs the pain.
Escaping it only leaves you unformed, incomplete.
This is why purpose matters.
Purpose is what turns hardship into progress.
It’s what makes life’s trials bearable; because they become meaningful.
It’s what anchors you in the chaos and gives direction to the storm.
Without purpose, suffering feels random, relentless, cruel, even.
But with purpose? It becomes the very thing that leads you to your greatness.
So let me ask you:
Are you leaning into the trials life has brought you?
Are you letting them shape you into the person you were always meant to be?
Yes, life is difficult.
But remember, you are loved.
It is BECAUSE you're loved, that life is difficult.
And you were made for more than survival.
You were made for greatness.