I just finished reading Saving Milly: Love, Politics and Parkinson's Disease by Fox News political commentator Morton Kondracke. It's the story of his love for, and marriage to Millicent "Milly" Martinez, and the way their lives were changed when she developed Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's destroys the neurotransmitter-producing cells in the brain. When these cells die, and the brain's supply of dopamine is depleted, it becomes difficult to control muscle movements. Parkinson's sufferers twitch and jerk, they freeze up, and their muscle strength progressively diminishes. Ultimately they need assistance with the most basic tasks, even losing the ability to speak and swallow. There is no cure, and no very effective treatments.

Michael J Fox is also a Parkinson's disease sufferer.

Kondracke talks a lot in his book about the way Milly's Parkinson's affected their faith in God. Before she became ill, Milly was a devout Catholic, whereas Mort might have been be described as a lapsed Protestant. A fiercely independent woman, Milly was terrified when she was diagnosed, knowing that it would mean a long slide into dependency. And, as speaking became more and more difficult, this woman who had always been at the center of her circle of friends became socially isolated.

Something curious happened. As Milly's Parkinson's gripped her more tightly, she blamed God and became angry. She stopped going to church. She became bitter. She talked frequently about wanting to die.

Mort, on the other hand, suddenly realized the magnitude of the responsibility God had given him. He could not fail Milly in her time of need. His awareness of his own weaknesses drove him to prayer. He began attending a men's Bible study, he went back to church, he started to see Milly's illness, and his opportunity to love and care for her in her time of need, as part of God's good plan.

Which got me to thinking: What makes the difference, do you think, in how we react to hardships? Why do some people go through terrible experiences with their faith strengthened, and others with their faith in tatters?

Maybe another way to frame the question is: What are the keys to being spiritually robust and resilient Christians?

In all humility, I recognize that our only source of strength at such times is God himself. But would you say that there are qualities of character, spiritual disciplines, particular promises and truths that help carry us through at such times, and if so, what might they be?