I think that perseverance through the emotional battles is the key to the strengthening of faith. My wife, 2 boys and I were living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. The wave of emotions we experienced during that time ran the gamut. It was, however, the faith that God would take care of my family that gave me a surreal peace that everything was going to be ok, even though we lost everything. I can’t explain the peace I had other than to say it was God rescuing me from myself because He knew I could not handle it on my own.