God allows us to suffer difficulties and hardships for a purpose. God led the children of Israel to wander through the wilderness for forty years to humble them and test them. Testing reveals what is in our hearts and produces a robust faith (James 1:3,12). As we walk with God, we will see and understand that His Word should guide our lives. God's Word means life and death, so we must listen to God through His Word. Is God testing us in some area of our life? What has the testing revealed? Are we bitter towards God because of where He has led us? Or have we come to trust Him more as a result of what we have gone through? As we walk with God, we will start to realize that our lives depend upon His Word. We must be prepared to listen/watch for God's promptings and guidance. God's Word should be essential in our daily living. — Deuteronomy 8:2