Following on from the previous valley, the fundamental unity underlying all things means that even the direst situation can be, in reality, the most exquisite.

The early history of the Bahá'í Faith bears eloquent testimony to the truth of this. Many who were wealthy on entering the Faith had all their belongings confiscated. But far from making the new adherents sad, it served only to make them less concerned with the material trappings that created a barrier between themselves and God.

A few years after His release from prison, 'Abd'ul-Bahá said:

Freedom is not a matter of place, but of condition. I was happy in that prison, for those days were passed in the path of service.
To me prison was freedom.
Troubles are a rest to me.
Death is life.
To be despised is honour.
Therefore I was full of happiness all through that prison time.
When one is released from the prison of self, that is indeed freedom! For self is the greatest prison.
When this release takes place, one can never be imprisoned. Unless one accepts dire vicissitudes, not with dull resignation, but with radiant acquiescence, one cannot attain this freedom. - Blomfield, 'The Chosen Highway' p.166