The Bitter Must Come Before The Sweet

I just began reading the second part of Pilgrim's Progress. In the first part, the fictional character Christian flees from the City of Destruction (the world) in pursuit of the Celestial City (heaven), leaving his family behind because they have no desire to go with him. In the second part, Christian's wife Christiana is awakened to her need for salvation and--taking her four children with her--decides to follow her husband to the Celestial City.

Just like Christian encountered many characters and situations that sought to discourage him from the narrow path as he traveled towards the Celestial City, Christiana does also. The same holds true for every believer down through the ages. What follows is an exchange between Christiana and the first of many such characters Christiana will meet in her journey, Mrs. Timorous [= fearful]. As one of her neighbors in the City of Destruction, Mrs. Timorous seeks to bring Christiana's journey to the Celestial City to an end before it even begins.

[Mrs. Timorous]: Oh! the Madness that has possessed thee and thy husband! to run yourselves upon such Difficulties! You have heard, I am sure, what your husband did meet with, even in a manner at the first step that he took on his Way, as our neighbor Obstinate can yet testify, for he went along with him; yea, and Pliable too, until they, like wise men, were afraid to go any further. We also heard over and above, how he met with the Lions, Apollyon, the Shadow of Death, and many other things. Nor is the Danger that he met with at Vanity-Fair to be forgotten by thee. For if he, tho' a man, was so hard put to it, what canst thou, being but a poor woman, do? Consider also, that these four sweet babes are thy children, thy flesh, and thy bones. Wherefore, though thou shouldest be so rash as to cast away thyself; yet for the sake of the fruit of thy body, keep thou at home.

But Christiana said unto her, tempt me not, my neighbour: I have now a price put into my hand to get gain, and I should be a Fool of the greatest size, if I should have no heart to strike in with the opportunity. And for that you tell me of all these Troubles that I am like to meet with in the Way, they are so far off from being to me a Discouragement, that they shew I am in the right. The Bitter must come before the Sweet, and that also will make the Sweet the sweeter.

--John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress, Second Part, p. 212.

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:21-22