Smooth

In the third chapter of Luke, JOhn the Baptist comes on the scene and his ministry is introduced by quoting a passage from Isaiah in which it speaks of roads being smooth and straight. As we see his ministry unfold it would seem that "smooth" is the last word we would choose. However, we know that part of the process of smoothing oftentimes includes dealing with "rough" things.

I wonder how each of us have experienced this? Perhaps, even, we are in the midst of a time when the challenges of life are "smoothing" places in our lives? How is God bringing comfort in the struggle?