As always, your piece did not disappoint. I once read that the source of all suffering is a desire for a change in status. If then, we strive to "be perfect" as "our Heavenly Father is perfect", then suffering is necessary because the pulls of the temporal life will continually war against our desire to be better spiritually.

As always, the reward (happiness) is on the other side of the sacrifice (giving up smoking/drinking, making healthy lifestyle choices).

Perhaps placing faith first and choosing this before other things is the best way. After all, didn't God require the "first fruits" of the Israelite harvest? Were not the first born sons consecrated to His service?

Thanks for the read!