Imagine yourself [as] a house that God comes in to rebuid. At first, perhaps, you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof; you knew those jobs needed to be done and so you are not surprised.

But soon He starts knocking you about in a way that hurts abominably, and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to?

He is building a different house than you had planned; throwing out a new here, putting on a extra floor there, running up towers, and making courtyards.

You thought you were going to be a little cottage; but is building a palace.

- C.S. Lewis (After George MacDonald)