As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in

Vincent Van Gogh once declared: “As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed.” These words, though born from the soul of a troubled artist, echo with the timbre of eternal truth. For Van Gogh, who walked through storms of poverty, loneliness, and despair, knew by his own trial that the journey of life is not made easier with age, but rather heavier, filled with burdens that test the core of our being. Yet he also knew that within these burdens lies a hidden gift: the forging of a heart as strong as tempered steel, radiant with resilience.

The ancients would say that a man is like iron in the fire. With each trial, the flames grow hotter, the hammer falls heavier, and the blows more fierce. Yet without these, the iron remains brittle, unshaped, unworthy of great deeds. So too with the soul—without difficulties, it remains soft and untested. It is in the battle, in the wrestling with fate, that the heart’s strength is revealed. Thus Van Gogh speaks not merely of suffering, but of transformation—the metamorphosis that turns fragility into power.

Consider the life of Abraham Lincoln. Born in a log cabin, reared in hardship, he faced endless obstacles: repeated failures in politics, crushing grief in the loss of loved ones, and the impossible burden of leading a nation divided by war. His days were cloaked in sorrow, his nights pierced by despair. Yet it was precisely in these crucibles that his inner strength was carved. Had his road been smooth, his heart would not have grown vast enough to bear the weight of freedom for millions. The difficulties did not destroy him—they summoned forth the greatness within him.

Van Gogh himself was no stranger to such fires. Rejected in love, abandoned by friends, unrecognized in his art, he lived in poverty and isolation. And yet, amid his struggles, he painted the heavens ablaze, fields of wheat trembling with light, and the human soul made visible upon canvas. His art is proof that even when the body falters and the mind grows weary, the heart—through suffering—can be awakened into brilliance. It was his very difficulties that gave birth to his eternal gift to humanity.

The lesson is clear: one must not curse the path of hardship. For though life grows more difficult as we advance, these trials are not sent to break us, but to reveal the depths of our own power. The easy road yields little; it is the rugged path that teaches endurance, courage, and wisdom. Just as a tree, battered by storms, drives its roots deeper into the earth, so too does the soul grow firmer when pressed by adversity.

Therefore, let no one shrink back from their difficulties. Instead, face them as sacred battles. When sorrow comes, let it teach compassion. When failure strikes, let it kindle perseverance. When the weight of the world presses down, let it call forth the hidden strength of the heart. For every difficulty conquered is not merely a victory over the world, but a victory within oneself—the triumph of spirit over despair.

In practice, take these actions: welcome each challenge as a teacher, write down the lessons that suffering brings, and recall often the victories you have already won. Surround yourself with those who lift your spirit, but remember that some journeys must be fought alone, where only your own heart can guide you. And when you stand weary, remember that even the smallest step forward is proof of your strength.

Thus Van Gogh’s words remain a beacon through the centuries: though the road of life grows ever harder, it is in the struggle that we discover who we truly are. The difficulties are not curses—they are the fire that forges the soul. And those who endure shall shine, like stars born from darkness, radiant and eternal.