I think it sucks.

But I think it's true.

Luckily, I think that most of the time, what we perceive as a path of suffering will turn out to be a lot better and even more enjoyable for us than if we had done things the way we wanted to them. Had I been a married man with a family, I would not have been able to do many of the things I have done: travel, live in various different places and meet all kinds of people, go on mission trips, have YFs, etc. I am probably living a far more exciting life than if I had forced myself into a marriage.

But other times, we don't get any benefits for accepting that sacrifice. Sometimes we do end up with nothing but suffering and the benefit actually goes to someone else. I have to admit, that's kind of a bummer. But I think for that kind of suffering, we will be rewarded in the next life. Nate Saint didn't get to see the impact his murder would have on the Waodani people, but I bet he gets rewarded for it in heaven, if not in some material way then merely by the fact there are so many people in heaven who will honor him for paving their way into paradise.