I love his book The Wise Heart: p. 244 "We are all subject to aging and illness, to losses that nothing will change. Loneliness, betrayal, insecurity have no outer cure." He goes on to quote the buddha: "It seems that although we thought ourselves permanent, we are not. Although we thought ourselves settled, we are not. Although we thought we would last forever, we will not." Jack concludes that "facing our pain honorably is the only way we can grow...feel the pain of grasping and then relax to set the burden down."
The Bible also says that there is a positive side to suffering and that God will help us!... in Ps 119:71: "It is good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." 1Cor 10:13 is the first verse I ever memorized....