Is there anything good about bad times? Like some of you, I have felt shock and dismay at recent events such as the scandal at Penn State involving Joe Paterno or the "Occupy" protests around the world that have dissolved into violence. Perhaps it's time to talk about the positive uses of adversity.

Bad things sometimes happen to good people, and while it is impossible to always understand why that may be, one thing is clear: No matter who you are and how bad things seem at the time, some good can come from every bad situation. Yes, I mean every bad situation.

You know, no matter how hard we try, we can't possibly control everything that happens to us in life. About the only things we can control are our responses to what happens. In the long run, it is our response that matters most.

When we are forced to navigate the rough waters of adversity, we have an opportunity to develop aspects of our character that a smooth sail through good times just doesn't give us.

Some time ago, the title of a very popular book was, "Tough Times Don't Last - Tough People Do." We need to understand that going through tough times is how tough people get that way. They avoid hopelessness and helplessness; they keep going when others give up and quit; and they roll with the punches. But, believe me, they weren't born knowing how to do these things.

They have learned to use adversity to their advantage, even though they may not have known exactly what they were doing at the time. So, if times are tough for you right now, hang in there. After you've made it through to the other side, it is entirely possible that you'll discover a depth of character you never knew you had.