It is said that those who want to gain a great quantity of fruit from a jujube tree have to tie a goat to the tree or hit the tree frequently. The reason is that the tree instinctively becomes aware of the crisis at hand and tries harder to bear a lot of jujube fruit. In the same way, when we meet with crisis in our life's journey, we can take it as an opportunity to refine ourselves and improve our faith. And if we overcome them with a thankful heart, we can receive God's love and blessing.
"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes" (Psalm 119:71).