You seem to want to avoid suffering at all cost, but sometimes the greatest growth happens through suffering and difficulty. We learn more and grow more through difficult times than through easy/enjoyable times. This is true whether you are talking about an individual or a nation or mankind in general. You can see that through the massive downturn in civilization (and morals) that has occurred in the past 50 years. All of the economic and technological growth caused ease (most people didn't have to worry about where there next meal would come from anymore, but instead worried about whether their preferred entertainment would be available or if they might have to hear an opposing viewpoint). Earlier in American history, when times were truly tough, people were happier and grew in wisdom and strength.

In my personal life, I had a string of horrible circumstances happen that led to me being better off (and a greater faith in God). My hot water heat pipes burst flooding the entire downstairs of my house. We had to have giant fans running 24/7 for 6 weeks and the whole downstairs was flood cut. Insurance wanted to only pay 60% of the cost of repairs. We had to get a lawyer to get a settlement to pay 90% of the cost after 9 months of fighting and living in horrible circumstances. As soon as we got the check, we changed insurance companies. Ten days later our house burnt to the ground with not one thing surviving (Fire caused by city employees). Within one month, the new insurance company had paid for the house, the trees, the barn, and a year's rent for while we rebuilt. A month later our car engine burnt up.

A month later my husband ruptured his Achilles tendon. Our rental house had the bedroom and family room on the same level and only a few feet away. The house that burnt down had the bedroom upstairs and very steep/narrow steps and the family room downstairs. We had also had an electric recliner donated to us. Recovery was so much better in the rental house than it would have been in the house that burnt down.

With the extra money from the original settlement and the full payment from insurance, we were able to build our dream home, designed for every stage of life (and in a very fire proof manner) and wind up with a paid off house. We are all better off having been through those hard times than before. Not one member of the family, if given the opportunity to go back and avoid the fire and flood, would chose to do so. We are stronger mentally and as a family than before the hard times and we have more consideration of others going through hard times and can be an encouragement to them.

I would never give up the hard times even if given the chance.