The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of

Host: The room was quiet, the soft glow from the lamp casting a warm light over the space. Outside, the world had slipped into night, and the stillness of the evening seemed to invite deeper thoughts. Jeeny sat at the table, a cup of tea in her hands, her gaze distant as she reflected on something. Jack, standing by the window, looked out at the darkening sky, his arms crossed, lost in thought. The air between them was calm, but there was a sense that something profound was about to emerge from their conversation.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice calm but filled with intention) “I came across something today by Charles Spurgeon that really made me think. He said, ‘The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: (pauses, his voice thoughtful) “It’s a powerful metaphor, isn’t it? The idea that some of the strongest people, the ones who are most resilient, come from the toughest experiences—the ‘highlands of affliction.’ It’s almost like suffering has the ability to shape someone into something stronger, more capable, more focused on what really matters.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. The highlands are a difficult place to be, but they offer the strength to rise above. It’s in the hardest moments that we are refined, like gold being purified by fire. Spurgeon is saying that through affliction, we gain qualities that are necessary for the work that lies ahead. It’s not just about surviving the hardship, but about what we become through it.”

Host: The quiet in the room deepened as their words hung in the air, settling into something more profound. The world outside was dark, but inside, the conversation felt like it was unfolding into a deeper understanding of resilience, strength, and the transformative power of hardship. Jack shifted slightly, his gaze softening as he reflected on what had just been said.

Jack: (his voice softer now) “I guess it’s easy to think of affliction as something we just have to get through, something we want to escape. But maybe it’s about learning to embrace the growth that comes from the struggle. It’s through the difficulty that we’re equipped with the strength we need, not just to survive, but to thrive in the face of challenges.”

Jeeny: (gently) “Yes, and that’s where the real strength comes from. It’s not just the ability to endure, but the ability to come out the other side of affliction changed, more prepared for the challenges ahead. The best soldiers, in a sense, are the ones who have been through the hardest battles, the ones who have learned how to stand firm and face what lies ahead with courage and conviction.”

Jack: (pauses, his expression more reflective) “It’s a hard thought, isn’t it? To think that some of our best qualities, our deepest strengths, are forged in the hardest times. That hardship isn’t just something to avoid or fear—it’s something that shapes us into the people we’re meant to become.”

Jeeny: (smiling softly) “Exactly. The highlands of affliction aren’t places we seek out, but when we find ourselves there, we have the opportunity to grow in ways we never could in easier circumstances. The Lord doesn’t waste our pain—He uses it to mold us, to prepare us for something greater.”

Host: The stillness in the room felt deeper now, the conversation unfolding into a quiet realization. Jeeny and Jack had touched on something universal—that the struggles we face, no matter how difficult, have the potential to shape us into something stronger, something more resilient. The world outside had fully darkened, but inside, there was a sense of peace, a quiet understanding that affliction, though painful, can be the very thing that prepares us for the work that lies ahead.

Jack: (with a faint smile) “I think it’s a reminder that our challenges, as difficult as they are, aren’t meaningless. They’re part of a process that makes us stronger, more capable of facing whatever comes next.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her smile warm) “Yes. And that’s the beauty of it. The highlands of affliction might feel overwhelming, but they’re not the end of the story. They’re just the beginning of something much greater—a process of growth, transformation, and ultimate strength.”

Host: The room, once filled with quiet hums of contemplation, now felt full of a deeper, quiet understanding. Outside, the world continued its slow march toward night, but inside, the realization that affliction, while painful, has the potential to shape us into stronger, more resilient individuals remained in the air. Jeeny and Jack sat together, embracing the truth that the hardest moments often lead to the greatest transformation, and that strength is born not from ease, but from endurance and growth.