Many years ago, I had the pleasure of sitting beside a member of the Matalon family on an airplane ride. As the journey progressed, I became fascinated as he told me of his family's experience in life. What I knew then of the Matalon family was their vast wealth, success and power. What I did not know is what they had to go through to get there - the financial failures, the crushing disappointments, the letdowns.

And yet, I was not surprised to learn of their hidden trials, for this is a phenomenon of life that I had researched while reading the biographies of successful men and women. No one, and I mean NO ONE, ever gets the prize without a fight; no one lives the dream without some pain; no one succeeds until he or she has endured hardship.

Every promise

In life, there is a principle, and it is this: promise, problem, provision. The promise is the dream - what you believe you can achieve, the wealth you want to acquire, the position of leadership you feel is yours. But life is a curious amalgam of opposites, a balancing act of action and reaction. Every promise brings with it a problem, and unless you solve the problem, there is no provision. Truth be told, on the journey to success, the most important aspect of the journey is the problem. It is in the fires of testing and trials that one's character is fashioned. As we move towards power, fame and fortune, we are not really qualified to assume the mantle of greatness until we have been humbled in the valley of adversity.

The principle of success enshrined in promise, problem, provision is as old as the Bible. The classic story there is of Joseph, the dreamer. In the book of Genesis, we see a remarkable unfolding of his life guided by promise, problem, provision. Joseph had a dream, a vision about his future greatness. In his case, it was a literal dream. In your case, it might be a vision of what you want to be, do and have.

But no sooner than Joseph received his promise, he faced a problem: his brothers were jealous of him and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But his problem was just the beginning. Falsely accused, he was cast into prison where he languished for years. But in the darkness of adversity, he did not give up his dream. He held on to his vision. His provision came when, miraculously, he was made prime minister of Egypt and saved that country from economic calamity.

The interesting thing I have learned from Joseph and his experience is what I have learned from other successful people. It is this: You grow and develop character in adversity, not in prosperity. What is more, if you do not manage adversity, learn from it, grow through it, and gain mental strength from it, you almost certainly will not arrive at the provision. Persistence through pain brings provision and power. In the valley of suffering, in the fires of trial is where you really grow in life. Being wealthy does not tell you anything about the character of a man. What he went through to achieve that wealth is more instructive. Prosperity conceals character, adversity reveals it.

- FILE

Adversity, not a weapon

Your adversity is not a weapon to destroy you, but an opportunity to strengthen you. Don't curse the darkness; light a candle. If you are going through hardship now, grow through it, be strengthened by it. Seek help if you need it, but rise above it. If a mountain faces you, climb over it, go around it, or tunnel under it. Fight, fight, fight. Even a dead fish can 'swim' downstream. It takes muscles, courage and determination to swim against the current. But only when you have done that will you ever come into life's provision for you.

Barack Obama now faces his problem. How he handles it will determine his provision.