How does one know when they are living and doing as God would have them? How does a person know when they are fallowing as God leads and not just doing what they want to? I think God often calls us to do the things that are hardest for us...not because he does not love us but because sometimes we are so stuborn that unless we are in some sort of hardship or trial we don't reach out to Him enough. God loves a broken and willing spirit...not because He likes to see us hurting but because our pain will cause us to cling to Him even closer. It allows Him to work on our hearts. 

On the other hand though I see it often enough when someone is so attached to there pain and misery that even though they are crying out to God to fix it they won't truly let go of the thing that needs to be fixed. We are supposed to bring things to God and lay them at His feet....not bring them and then carry them back out with us. I know that's harder to do than it sounds but still I wonder how much happier people would be if they would actually give there hard things to God....I see things in my life that I know only God can fix but it is so hard to bring them before Him....I don't know if I feel unworthy or if I just don't want to let go...like I am afraid of actually being truly happy...but the bottom line is that if I am "loving" (not really loving it but still not letting it go...maybe even hating it) something by holding onto and not giving it to God then that is a form of idolizing. Strange to think we could make something bad in our lives an idol...but if I am clinging to it because it's to painful to let go of then I am in some way idolizing it. Hummm....just thoughts. Sorry if I bored you.