Tag: Tests and difficulties

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Tag: "Tests and difficulties"

tag name Tests and difficulties type: Miscellaneous

web link bahai-library.com/tags/Tests_and_difficulties
variations or
mis-spellings difficulty; tribulations; torment
related tags - Concepts; Change; Psychology; Spirituality
referring tags - Compilations on bahai.org; - Persecution; – Negative emotions and behaviors; Adversity; Comfort; Complaining; Disappointment; Empowerment; Fire and Light (compilation); God, Tests of; Gold; Health challenges, Mental and physical; Hope; Lament; Lawh-i-Fitnih (Tablet of the Test); Luck (fortune); Materialism; Mental tests; Self; Storms; Stress; Suffering; Suffering and imprisonment of Central Figures; Support; This too shall pass
Inventory subject Prayer for tests and difficulties; Recompense; reward for belief; right action; Tests and trials; sacrifice and suffering
notes

See also:
– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Sacred Writings, chapter 13, section "Tests and Afflictions"
– Bahá'í Prayers:
Prayers for aid and assistance
Prayers for tests and difficulties
– Covenant Library Unified Index

selected quotations
(authoritative sources)
These quotations reflect common presentations of Bahá’í views; the materials below may show a wider range of interpretations and contexts:

"If adversity befall thee not in My path, how canst thou walk in the ways of them that are content with My pleasure? If trials afflict thee not in thy longing to meet Me, how wilt thou attain the light in thy love for My beauty.
My calamity is My providence, outwardly it is fire and vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy. Hasten thereunto that thou mayest become an eternal light and an immortal spirit. This is My command unto thee, do thou observe it.
Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not, and should abasement come upon thee, grieve not, for both shall pass away and be no more."

– Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic no. 50, 51, 52 (BH00386)

"Lament not in your hours of trial, neither rejoice therein; seek ye the Middle Way which is the remembrance of Me in your afflictions and reflection over that which may befall you in future. Thus informeth you He Who is the Omniscient, He Who is aware."

– Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, ¶43

"... ‘Abdu’l-Bahá payeth no heed whatsoever to any ordeal, difficulty, or adversity. Nay, rather, he regardeth adversity to be, at times, the same as bounty itself. For forty years the prison-city of ‘Akká was for him a heavenly paradise, and he saw the early days of that imprisonment, which were its most severe, as a garden of roses.
Thou too must be my companion, and abandon not the arena in the face of afflictions and calamities. Thou must not merely refrain from complaining, but must rather be thankful..."

– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Light of the World, 22.5-6 (AB00502)

"While a man is happy he may forget his God; but when grief comes and sorrows overwhelm him, then will he remember his Father Who is in Heaven, and Who is able to deliver him from his humiliations.
"Men who suffer not, attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardeners is that one which, when the summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit."

– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, talk 14 (ABU0936), in Lights of Guidance, no. 2041

"... tests and trials are, for sanctified souls, but God’s bounty and grace, while to the weak, they are a calamity, unexpected and sudden. These tests... do but cleanse the spotting of self from off the mirror of the heart, till the Sun of Truth can cast its rays thereon; for there is no veil more obstructive than the self, and however tenuous that veil may be, at the last it will completely shut a person out, and deprive him of his portion of eternal grace..."

– Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, no. 155 (AB01404)

"We should not, however, forget that an essential characteristic of this world is hardship and tribulation and that it is by overcoming them that we achieve our moral and spiritual development. As the Master says, sorrow is like furrows, the deeper they go the more plentiful are the fruits we obtain."

– From a letter dated 5 November 1931 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, in compilation Living the Life, p. 7

"We must take the teachings as a great, balanced whole, not seek out and oppose to each other two strong statements that have different meanings; somewhere in between, there are links uniting the two. That is what makes our Faith so flexible and well balanced. For instance there are calamities for testing and for punishment--there are also accidents, plain cause and effect!"

– From a letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 19 March 1946, cited in Reconciliation of Apparent Contradictions in the Bahá'í Writings

"Lauded and glorified art Thou, O my God!
I entreat Thee by the sighing of Thy lovers and by the tears shed by them that long to behold Thee, not to withhold from me Thy tender mercies in Thy Day, nor to deprive me of the melodies of the Dove that extolleth Thy oneness before the light that shineth from Thy face. I am the one who is in misery, O God! Behold me cleaving fast to Thy Name, the All-Possessing. I am the one who is sure to perish; behold me clinging to Thy Name, the Imperishable. I implore Thee, therefore, by Thy Self, the Exalted, the Most High, not to abandon me unto mine own self and unto the desires of a corrupt inclination. Hold Thou my hand with the hand of Thy power, and deliver me from the depths of my fancies and idle imaginings, and cleanse me of all that is abhorrent unto Thee.
Cause me, then, to turn wholly unto Thee, to put my whole trust in Thee, to seek Thee as my Refuge, and to flee unto Thy face. Thou art, verily, He Who, through the power of His might, doeth whatsoever He desireth, and commandeth, through the potency of His will, whatsoever He chooseth. None can withstand the operation of Thy decree; none can divert the course of Thine appointment. Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Bountiful."

– Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í Prayers

"He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful! O God, my God! Thou seest me, Thou knowest me; Thou art my Haven and my Refuge. None have I sought nor any will I seek save Thee; no path have I trodden nor any will I tread but the path of Thy love. In the darksome night of despair, my eye turneth expectant and full of hope to the morn of Thy boundless favor and at the hour of dawn my drooping soul is refreshed and strengthened in remembrance of Thy beauty and perfection. He whom the grace of Thy mercy aideth, though he be but a drop, shall become the boundless ocean, and the merest atom which the outpouring of Thy loving-kindness assisteth, shall shine even as the radiant star.
Shelter under Thy protection, O Thou Spirit of purity, Thou Who art the All-Bountiful Provider, this enthralled, enkindled servant of Thine. Aid him in this world of being to remain steadfast and firm in Thy love and grant that this broken-winged bird attain a refuge and shelter in Thy divine nest that abideth upon the celestial tree."

– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers

references bahai9.com/wiki/Tests; bahaiquotes.com/subjects/t; thebahaiprayers.com/subject/tests; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Test; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Difficulty

"Tests and difficulties" has been tagged in:

113 results from the Main Catalog

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n.d.. Declining Processes of the World. Peter J. Khan, Janet A. Khan. — The condition of the world today, which is in a state of decline from negative forces, requires that... Audio.
2025. تقریرا ی ت بر کتاب ایقان (Notes on the Kitáb-i-Íqán). Iman Motlagh Arani. — A structured reading of key themes — return and recognition, symbolic cosmology, and the logic of ... Books.
2025. No Mud, No Lotus: Thoughts on the Wisdom of Tests and Difficulties. Jaine Toth. — Artistic presentation with quotations from many spiritual sources, best appreciated with soft instru... Presentations.
2024-05-31. Globality of Suffering, The: Tokutomi Kenjirō Meets 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Palestine, 1919. Amin Ghadimi. — Exploring Japanese author Tokutomi Kenjirō's 1919 encounter with ‘Abdu’l-Baha, analyzing themes... Articles.
2024. Sacred Refrains: Arabic and Persian Dhikrs in the Bahá'í Community. Margaret Caton. — introduction to dhikr (remembrances) and the use of music in Baha'i spiritual practices; 74 recordin... Music.
2023-11-28. Reflections on the First Century of the Formative Age. Universal House of Justice. — Overview of the Faith's developments and activities during the previous century, including the Guard... UHJ-letters.
2023-07. Mizán of Affect in Material v. Metaphysical Models of Human Consciousness, The. John S. Hatcher. — Though Baha'i teachings hold that the soul progresses after the body ceases to exist, the physical b... Articles.
2023 / 2025. Invocation 'Is There Any Remover of Difficulties Save God...', The. Muhammad Afnan, Adib Masumian, trans. . — Short overview of the historical background of the Bab's invocation. Essays.
2022-11-14. Tablet of the Gems of Unity, The (Lawh-i-Javáhir-i-Tawhíd). Bahá'u'lláh, Joshua Hall, trans. . — Composite authoritative and provisional translation, partially from Gleanings section 27. Translations.
2022. Reis naar het Hart van de Qur'án: Het Heilige Boek van de islam voor hen die nadenken (door een niet-moslim). David Russell Garcia, Kees Poolman, trans. . — Een overzicht van de Koran en zijn thema's: islam versus het christendom; wetten, geestelijke en soc... Books.
2021. List of Articles by John Hatcher on BahaiTeachings.org. John S. Hatcher. — List of online essays and articles by Dr. John Hatcher. Bibliographies.
2021. Light of the World: Selected Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Abdu'l-Bahá. — Tablets of ‘Abdul-Baha describing aspects of the life of Baha’u’llah including the tribulation... Writings.
2021. Light and Mercy: Mental Health and Tests and Difficulties. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia, comp. . — The physical and mental impact of the continuing pandemic is evident around us, and the members of t... Compilations-NSA.
2020-12-03. On the Calamitous State of World Affairs and the Material Sustainability of Communities. Universal House of Justice. — On concerns about the affairs of the world and catastrophic events, and whether the global Baha’i ... UHJ-letters.
2020-09. World's Current State of Disorder and Confusion, The. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Bahá'í World Centre, comp. . — Compilation of passages relevant to contemporary issues of 2020, and the appropriate disposition of ... Compilations.
2020-09. Compilation "L'état actuel de désordre et de confusion du monde," Centre International d'Enseignement. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Bahá'í World Centre, comp, Pierre Daoust, trans. . — Compilation du Centre International d'Enseignement. Compilations.
2020-07. Light Was in the Darkness, The: Reflections on the Growth that Hides in the Pain of Suffering. Michael L. Penn. — Existential stress and its relationship to individual growth and development, drawing on the rich sp... Articles.
2020-05. World in Travail, A: Understanding and Responding to the Events of Our Times. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Kamran Sedig, comp, Jan Duchac, ed. . — A compilation on the maladies of the world. Compilations-personal.
2020. Potential Calamities and Ensuring Sustainability of Communities. Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice. — Guidance on calamitous events and our response to them. Compilations.
2020. Why Constructive Resilience? An Autobiographical Essay. Michael L. Penn. — Reflections on growing up African-American; guidance from and a meeting with William Hatcher; the re... Articles.
2020. Africanity, Womanism, and Constructive Resilience: Some Reflections. Layli Maparyan. — The meanings of the metaphor "pupil of the eye;" experiences of growing up African-American in the W... Articles.
2018/2025. Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks. Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í World Centre, trans. . — 216 selections, last updated 2025. Writings.
2018/2024. Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í World Centre, trans. . — 22 selections, last updated 2024. Writings.
2018/2024. Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í World Centre, trans. . — 85 selections, last updated August 2024. Writings.
2018-05. Give Me Thy Grace to Serve Thy Loved Ones. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í World Centre, trans. . — Compilation emphasizing selfless service as the essence of faith, integrating spiritual devotion wit... Compilations.
2018-01-21. Resurrection and the World to Come. Bahá'u'lláh, William F. McCants, trans. . — Extract from the Lawh-i-Yusuf (Tablet of Joseph), explaining the meaning of 'paradise', 'hellfire', ... Translations.
2018. Thankful in Adversity: Using Bahá'í Writings and Benefit Finding to Enhance Understanding and Application of Mental Health Recovery Principles. Lindsay-Rose Dykema. — Both the Baha’i Writings and the literature on "benefit finding" can enhance the understanding and... Articles.
2018. Constructive Resilience. Firaydoun Javaheri. — How the perseverance of the Baha'is in Iran has resulted in the generality of the Iranian people beg... Articles.
2017. Suffering of the Exalted Letters. Bahá'u'lláh, Joshua Hall, trans. . — Tablet written in Baghdad about death and the development of the human soul. Translations.
2015. Little Book of Comfort / Librito Reconfortante. Lesley Shams. — The reason for suffering and tools to transform it; words of comfort and prayers. La razón del sufr... Books.
2015. Insistent Self, The: How to Nurture Our Spirit. Lesley Shams. — The nature of our ego and the effort needed to prevent this lower nature taking over and hindering o... Books.
2013-2018/2023. Various Essays. Susan Gammage. — 47 short essays on following the teachings and living a Baha'i life, life coaching and counselling, ... Essays.
2013. Fear Into Faith: Overcoming Anxiety. Susan Gammage. — An overview on understanding anxieties and fears, how to cope with them, and Baha'i perspectives. Books.
2012. Empowering Words. Joanna M. Tahzib-Thomas. — Extracts from the letters and messages of Shoghi Effendi for inspiration, guidance, and vision. Incl... Compilations-personal.
2011-04. Forces of Our Time: Lecture Series. Hooper Dunbar. — Six lectures series at Bosch Baha'i School, April 15-17 2011. Audio.
2010-12. Material and Spiritual Worlds. Peter J. Khan. — Four talks on the Five-Year Plan given at the North Island Baha'i Summer School, Hamilton, New Zeala... Audio.
2010. Historical Consciousness and the Divine Plan. Douglas Martin. — A series of eight short talks (total around two hours), in both audio and video formats, on the evol... Audio.
2009-2025. Translation List: Provisional Translations of Baháʼí Texts. Adib Masumian, trans. — Index to talks, letters, and other items translated from Persian and Arabic to English by Adib Masum... Bibliographies.
2009-2019. Lists of Articles. Brent Poirier. — Lists of 126 articles at the author's six blog websites. Essays.
2009-2011. Provisional Translations of Selected Writings of the Báb, Baháʼuʼlláh, and ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Peyman Sazedj. — Twenty-four translations from 2009, 2010, and 2011 copied from the defunct website peyman.sazedj.org... Translations.
2008. Prayers and rituals in the Bahá'í Faith: Introduction to A Tablet to Jináb-i-Mullá 'Alí-Akbar fí Ardi'l-Álif. Julio Savi, Faezeh Mardani. — A tablet of Baha'u'llah to one of the Babis to renew his faith before He had revealed his mission; i... Articles.
2007-06. Power of Prayer. Hartmut Grossmann. Audio.
2007-02. Foundation of Happiness. Kiser Barnes. Audio.
2007. Meaning of Suffering and the Mystery of Sacrifice, The: Selections from the Bahá'í Holy Writings. Judith Hatcher, comp. Compilations-personal.
2007. Introduction to the Lawh-i Haqqu'n-Nas, An. Jean-Marc Lepain, Peter Terry, trans. . — Summary of the tablet Lawh-i Haqqu’n-Nas, Tablet of the "Right of the People," on the metaphorical... Articles.
2007. Hidden Gifts: Finding Blessings in the Struggles of Life. Brian Kurzius. — Compilation of Baha'i texts on the purpose of problems and tests in our lives. Introductory.
2006-09-05. Bahá'í Perspective on the Concept of "Karma". Universal House of Justice, Research Department. — Summary of the meaning of karma in Hinduism and Buddhism; Baha'i views on karma and reincarnation as... UHJ-letters.
2006. Encouragement. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice. Compilations-personal.
2006. Tablet To the Beloved of God in General in America. Abdu'l-Bahá, Ali Kuli Khan, trans. . — Tablet sent in response to a petition signed by American believers in 1905, including Rose Hilty and... Translations.
2005-11. Collected Essays. John Wiegley. — Dozens of essays on numerous topics of Baha'i thought and practice. Books.
2004. Bahá'í Ethics: Answers to 55 Questions Submitted by Arthur Dobrin. Dianne Bradford, Fiona Missaghian, Udo Schaefer, Robert Stockman, Jonah Winters, comp. . — Answers to questions submitted in preparation for a source book in religious ethics for a college co... Essays.
2004. Service, Joy and Sacrifice: An Essay on Commentaries by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. James B. Thomas. — On the exemplary life of service to God and to humankind; choosing to change one's life from predom... Articles.
2003-10. Voyage to the Heart of the Koran: The Holy Book of Islám for Thinking Minds (By a Non-Muslim). David Russell Garcia. — A lengthy overview of the Qur'an and its themes for a Baha'i audience; holy war and fighting; reason... Books.
2003-07-14. Tablets and Utterances of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Quoted in Compilations and Letters of the Universal House of Justice. Universal House of Justice. — Discusses the authenticity of quotations included in letters from the Universal House of Justice, pl... UHJ-letters.
2002/2003 Winter. Same Yet Different, The: Creating Unity Among the Diverse Members of the Bahá'í Faith. Deborah Clark Vance. — A study of the process by which people form a unified community from diverse cultures based on inter... Articles.
2002-05. Same Yet Different, The: Bahá'í Perspectives on Achieving Unity out of Difference. Deborah Clark Vance. — Based on in-depth interviews with members of the Baha’i Faith [in the USA] to uncover a descriptio... Theses.
2002. Selections from the Writings of His Holiness 'Abdu'l-Bahá': 3. Abdu'l-Bahá, Khazeh Fananapazir, trans. . — Provisional translations of three selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha'. Translations.
2002. Resilience in Children: Within a Spiritual, Social, and Neurobiological Framework. Hoda Mahmoudi, Nasim Ahmadiyeh. — Exposure to hardship and to events requiring adaptation to change allows the child to learn flexibil... Articles.
2002. Exposition on the Fire Tablet by Bahá'u'lláh, An. James B. Thomas. — A description of Baha'u'llah's Fire Tablet, a dialogue between himself and God on suffering and sacr... Articles.
2001-12-28. Yá Alláhu'l-Mustagháth": Original Source, Correct Transliteration and Translation. Universal House of Justice. — About an invocation revealed by the Bab, prescribed for recitation in times of trouble and difficult... UHJ-letters.
2000. Breathe Not the Sins of Others: A Tale of Suspense. Stephen D. Dighton. — Features Baha'is and their Faith in situations many will recognize as mirroring their own spiritual ... Fiction.
1999. Bahá'í's View of Disability, A. Paul Booth. Essays.
1998-10-31. On the Study of the Bahá'í Writings. Hooper Dunbar. — On deepening and the systematic study of the Writings. Audio.
1998. Triumphing over our weaknesses. The Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Brent Poirier, comp. . — Personal compilation Compilations-personal.
1998. Creating Intimacy: In the Community and With the Seeker. Phyllis K. Peterson. — On how intimacy in the Baha'i community can be created, using Baha’i scriptures as guideline. We h... Articles-unpublished.
1997. Meaning of Detachment, The. Phyllis K. Peterson. — Detachment as it relates to women, teaching, the media, and unity. Essays.
1997. Bahá'í Spirituality. Moojan Momen. — Baha'u'llah summons us to a realisation of our true selves, urging us to free ourselves from the ill... Articles-unpublished.
1997. City of Radiant Acquiescence (Lawh-i-Madinatu'r-Rida). Bahá'u'lláh, Juan Cole, trans. . — Provisional translation of an Arabic Tablet revealed by Baha’u’llah in Baghdad, before His Decla... Translations.
1996. Chasm of Belief. Barbara L. McLellan. — Post traumatic stress disorder, its challenge to the Baha'i community, and steps which may assist th... Articles-unpublished.
1996. Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986: Third Epoch of the Formative Age. Universal House of Justice, Geoffrey W. Marks, comp. . Books.
1996. Bahá'u'lláh's Teachings on Spiritual Reality. Paul Lample, comp. — The quest for spirituality, the spiritual life, material and spiritual reality, the progress of the ... Introductory.
1995-10. Dimensions in Spirituality: Presentation. Jack McLean. — A summary of some concepts found in the book Dimensions in Spirituality: care of the soul, wisdom, p... Articles-unpublished.
1995-09-23. Nature and Challenge of Tests, The. Peter J. Khan. — An address by Dr. Khan, of the Universal House of Justice, at the Baha'i House of Worship at Wilmett... Talks.
1995-09-17. Mental Tests. Peter J. Khan. — An address by Dr. Khan, of the Universal House of Justice, in Australia. Needs proofreading. Talks.
1995-03-12. Mental Tests. Universal House of Justice. — Meaning of the phrase "mental tests" in the writings of Abdu'l-Baha and of Shoghi Effendi. Includes ... UHJ-letters.
1995. Problem Solving in the Family. Erik Blumenthal. — How can we solve our problems or conflicts? We need to know and put 5 factors into practice: our att... Essays.
1995. Victories and Crises. Peter J. Khan. — In this talk in the United States in 1995, a member of the Universal House of Justice speaks on the ... Audio.
1994-2021. Various Essays. Jack McLean. — 43 essays on various topics, many with Baha'i themes, most published in the Gulf Islands Driftwood o... Essays.
1994-10-23. Childhood Abuse, Ritual. Universal House of Justice. — Matters of psychology and healing relating to recovery from certain forms of childhood abuse. UHJ-letters.
1994. Dimensions of Spirituality: Reflections on the Meaning of Spiritual Life and Transformation in Light of the Bahá'í Faith. Jack McLean. — The search for truth; models and profiles of spiritual transformation; the mystical sense — prayer... Books.
1993. Tree of Life, The: A Program for the Spiritualization of the Bahá'í Community. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the Hawaiian Islands. — Compilations for a spiritualization and teaching campaign on prayer and meditation, how to be like t... Compilations-NSA.
1991-03. Spiritual Health of American Community. Universal House of Justice. — Publication of a letter addressing an individual's concerns for the spiritual health of the American... UHJ-letters.
1990. Suffering, The Meaning of: Warwick Leaflets. Warwick Bahá'í Bookshop. Introductory.
1989/1990. Immortality and the Human Soul: Lecture Series. Hooper Dunbar. Audio.
1988. Lights of Guidance: A Bahá'í Reference File. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Helen Bassett Hornby, comp. . — The classic Baha'i reference book. This is its first online edition. Compilations-personal.
1987. Love and Estrangement in the Bahá'í Community, by Arnold Nerenberg: Review. Sidney Edward Morrison. — On personal feelings of alienation in the Baha'i community, self image, and backbiting. Reviews.
1986. Iranian Expatriates, Letter to, following 1979 Iranian Revolution. Universal House of Justice, Inayat Rawhani, trans. . — Letter of support and guidance to Iranians who had recently fled the Iranian Revolution, dated 10 Fe... UHJ-letters.
1986. Forces of Our Time, The. Hooper Dunbar. — Excerpt from a talk presented at the "Prepare for Peace" conference, Long Beach, California, August ... Talks.
1986. Divine Therapy: Pearls of Wisdom from the Bahá'í Writings. Annamarie Honnold, comp. — Lengthy collection of passages on numerous themes including coping with stress, orientation to the D... Books.
1985-03-14. Human Suffering, the Reconstruction of Society, and the Places the Manifestations of God have Appeared. Universal House of Justice. UHJ-letters.
1985. Letters and Essays, 1886-1913. Mírzá Abu'l-Faḍl Gulpáygání, Juan Cole, trans. . — Treatises of "the greatest and most learned of all Baha'i scholars" about Alexander Tumansky; on mee... Books.
1984. Life Crises among the Religiously Committed: Do Sectarian Differences Matter?. Helen Rose Fuchs Ebaugh, Kathe Richman, Janet Saltzman Chafetz. — Study of Catholic Charismatics, Christian Scientists, and Baha'is, in terms of their perceptions of ... Articles.
1983. Applications of Positive Psychotherapy for Marriage and Family Therapy. Nossrat Peseschkian. — To understand observed behaviour, we need to consider transcultural conditions as well as those in t... Articles.
1982/1986. Fire and Light: Excerpts from the Bahá'í Sacred Writings. The Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, Universal House of Justice, Research Department, comp. . — Compilation of Baha’i writings on steadfastness, sacrifice, and adversity, showing how trials tran... Compilations.
1980. Fire Tablet. Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í World Centre, trans. . — Well-known Tablet of Baha'u'llah, included in many prayer books. Writings.
1976-07-07. Involvement in Politics and the Eradication of Injustice. Universal House of Justice. — Letter to an individual explaining that Baha’is avoid partisan politics, focusing instead on spiri... UHJ-letters.
1976. Spiritual Assembly's Growing Pains, A. Rúhíyyih Khánum. — A play, in 28 pages, showing "some of the workings of a Baha'i Spiritual Assembly: some of the blund... Fiction.
1974-11-19. Letter to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Italy. Universal House of Justice. — Regarding the alleviation of material suffering and the construction of a New World Order. UHJ-letters.
1973. Knowledge, Volition, and Action: The Steps to Spiritual Transformation. Daniel C. Jordan. — A comprehensive deepening program on knowledge of God's purpose for man; the role of volition in spi... Articles.
1968. Becoming Your True Self. Daniel C. Jordan. — The nature of human potential, and how the Baha'i Faith can guide the process of spiritual transform... Essays.
1967-12-09. Hidden Words, The: Transcript of a talk by Hand of the Cause of God A. Q. Faizí. Abu'l-Qásim Faizí. — Talk delivered in Wilmette, Illinois. Talks.
1956. Path to God, The: 1956 edition. Dorothy Baker. — Some elements for spiritual success: power through prayer and nine benefits of prayer, victorious li... Essays.
1952/2003. What Is "Luck"?. Youness Khan Afroukhteh, Riaz Masrour, trans. . — Pilgrims' notes of words of 'Abdu'l-Baha. Pilgrims.
1950/1978/2015. Prescription for Living. Rúhíyyih Khánum. — Thoughts on how to weave a happy individual life and a happy, united, world life: on love and marria... Books.
1950/1973. Principles of Bahá'í Administration. Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom, comp. . — A guide to procedure in the life and organic activity of the Baha'i community, prepared from three m... Compilations-NSA.
1945. Prayers of Bahá'u'lláh, The. Rúhíyyih Khánum. — Essay about various prayers and meditations of Baha'u'llah. Articles.
1944/2006. Divine Art of Living, The. The Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, Abdu'l-Bahá, Mabel Hyde Paine, comp. . — Collection of thematically arranged quotations. Introductory.
1940/1944. Tests: Their Spiritual Value. Mamie L. Seto. — Abdu'l-Baha's views on the spiritual effects of suffering and trials, and their necessity for person... Essays.
1937-09. Radiant Acquiescence. Orcella Rexford. — "Radiant acquiescence" (rida') means not only to give up your will to the Divine Will, but to do so ... Essays.
1937. Fire Tablet. Bahá'u'lláh, Ali Kuli Khan, trans, Marzieh Gail, trans. . — Tablet of "The Hearts of the Sincere are Consumed in the Fire" (Lawh-i-Qad-Ihtaraqa`l-Mukhlisún). Translations.
1937. Path to God, The: 1937 edition. Dorothy Baker. — Essay published as a pamphlet about the goal of life, revelation and access to heaven, self-improvem... Essays.
1928. Unpublished Talks by 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Abdu'l-Bahá. — Four short talks given by ‘Abdu'l-Baha in London, December 1912. These talks have not been publish... Translations.
1905. Tablet to a Group of Believers in the United States. Abdu'l-Bahá. — Response to a letter that was signed by 422 believers in the United States, and sent on July 4, 1905... Writings.

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tag name	Tests and difficulties	type:	Miscellaneous
web link	bahai-library.com/tags/Tests_and_difficulties
variations or mis-spellings	difficulty; tribulations; torment
related tags	- Concepts; Change; Psychology; Spirituality
referring tags	- Compilations on bahai.org; - Persecution; – Negative emotions and behaviors; Adversity; Comfort; Complaining; Disappointment; Empowerment; Fire and Light (compilation); God, Tests of; Gold; Health challenges, Mental and physical; Hope; Lament; Lawh-i-Fitnih (Tablet of the Test); Luck (fortune); Materialism; Mental tests; Self; Storms; Stress; Suffering; Suffering and imprisonment of Central Figures; Support; This too shall pass
Inventory subject	Prayer for tests and difficulties; Recompense; reward for belief; right action; Tests and trials; sacrifice and suffering
notes	See also: – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Sacred Writings, chapter 13, section "Tests and Afflictions" – Bahá'í Prayers: Prayers for aid and assistance Prayers for tests and difficulties – Covenant Library Unified Index
selected quotations (authoritative sources)	These quotations reflect common presentations of Bahá’í views; the materials below may show a wider range of interpretations and contexts: "If adversity befall thee not in My path, how canst thou walk in the ways of them that are content with My pleasure? If trials afflict thee not in thy longing to meet Me, how wilt thou attain the light in thy love for My beauty. My calamity is My providence, outwardly it is fire and vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy. Hasten thereunto that thou mayest become an eternal light and an immortal spirit. This is My command unto thee, do thou observe it. Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not, and should abasement come upon thee, grieve not, for both shall pass away and be no more." – Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic no. 50, 51, 52 (BH00386) "Lament not in your hours of trial, neither rejoice therein; seek ye the Middle Way which is the remembrance of Me in your afflictions and reflection over that which may befall you in future. Thus informeth you He Who is the Omniscient, He Who is aware." – Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, ¶43 "... ‘Abdu’l-Bahá payeth no heed whatsoever to any ordeal, difficulty, or adversity. Nay, rather, he regardeth adversity to be, at times, the same as bounty itself. For forty years the prison-city of ‘Akká was for him a heavenly paradise, and he saw the early days of that imprisonment, which were its most severe, as a garden of roses. Thou too must be my companion, and abandon not the arena in the face of afflictions and calamities. Thou must not merely refrain from complaining, but must rather be thankful..." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Light of the World, 22.5-6 (AB00502) "While a man is happy he may forget his God; but when grief comes and sorrows overwhelm him, then will he remember his Father Who is in Heaven, and Who is able to deliver him from his humiliations. "Men who suffer not, attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardeners is that one which, when the summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, talk 14 (ABU0936), in Lights of Guidance, no. 2041 "... tests and trials are, for sanctified souls, but God’s bounty and grace, while to the weak, they are a calamity, unexpected and sudden. These tests... do but cleanse the spotting of self from off the mirror of the heart, till the Sun of Truth can cast its rays thereon; for there is no veil more obstructive than the self, and however tenuous that veil may be, at the last it will completely shut a person out, and deprive him of his portion of eternal grace..." – Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, no. 155 (AB01404) "We should not, however, forget that an essential characteristic of this world is hardship and tribulation and that it is by overcoming them that we achieve our moral and spiritual development. As the Master says, sorrow is like furrows, the deeper they go the more plentiful are the fruits we obtain." – From a letter dated 5 November 1931 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, in compilation Living the Life, p. 7 "We must take the teachings as a great, balanced whole, not seek out and oppose to each other two strong statements that have different meanings; somewhere in between, there are links uniting the two. That is what makes our Faith so flexible and well balanced. For instance there are calamities for testing and for punishment--there are also accidents, plain cause and effect!" – From a letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 19 March 1946, cited in Reconciliation of Apparent Contradictions in the Bahá'í Writings "Lauded and glorified art Thou, O my God! I entreat Thee by the sighing of Thy lovers and by the tears shed by them that long to behold Thee, not to withhold from me Thy tender mercies in Thy Day, nor to deprive me of the melodies of the Dove that extolleth Thy oneness before the light that shineth from Thy face. I am the one who is in misery, O God! Behold me cleaving fast to Thy Name, the All-Possessing. I am the one who is sure to perish; behold me clinging to Thy Name, the Imperishable. I implore Thee, therefore, by Thy Self, the Exalted, the Most High, not to abandon me unto mine own self and unto the desires of a corrupt inclination. Hold Thou my hand with the hand of Thy power, and deliver me from the depths of my fancies and idle imaginings, and cleanse me of all that is abhorrent unto Thee. Cause me, then, to turn wholly unto Thee, to put my whole trust in Thee, to seek Thee as my Refuge, and to flee unto Thy face. Thou art, verily, He Who, through the power of His might, doeth whatsoever He desireth, and commandeth, through the potency of His will, whatsoever He chooseth. None can withstand the operation of Thy decree; none can divert the course of Thine appointment. Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Bountiful." – Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í Prayers "He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful! O God, my God! Thou seest me, Thou knowest me; Thou art my Haven and my Refuge. None have I sought nor any will I seek save Thee; no path have I trodden nor any will I tread but the path of Thy love. In the darksome night of despair, my eye turneth expectant and full of hope to the morn of Thy boundless favor and at the hour of dawn my drooping soul is refreshed and strengthened in remembrance of Thy beauty and perfection. He whom the grace of Thy mercy aideth, though he be but a drop, shall become the boundless ocean, and the merest atom which the outpouring of Thy loving-kindness assisteth, shall shine even as the radiant star. Shelter under Thy protection, O Thou Spirit of purity, Thou Who art the All-Bountiful Provider, this enthralled, enkindled servant of Thine. Aid him in this world of being to remain steadfast and firm in Thy love and grant that this broken-winged bird attain a refuge and shelter in Thy divine nest that abideth upon the celestial tree." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers
references	bahai9.com/wiki/Tests; bahaiquotes.com/subjects/t; thebahaiprayers.com/subject/tests; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Test; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Difficulty