"Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it." Mt. 7:13,14

Jesus indicates that there are two roads that men can follow: the wide path heading to destruction and the narrow way directed toward life. Believers are moved out of the wide path and into the narrow way through what I like to call God's funnel.

When you want to fill a narrow-necked bottle with water from a large pan, a funnel concentrates and forces the liquid into the small opening precisely where you want it, without wasting a bit.

God has a funnel, in a manner of speaking, that allows Him to take you (a very small creature) out of the masses of humanity and place you exactly where He wants you. If you could examine it, you would find that God's funnel is made up of various problems: contrary people, events, circumstances, vexing church situations, financial pressures, failures, thoughts, dysfunctional marriages, poor health, and trying family situations, to name a few. All these problems are calculated to pressure you, the believer, farther and farther into the narrow way that leads to the very presence of God, where problems will no longer be a concern, but prayer, joy, and praise will be the course of the day.

~ Michael Wells, Problems, God's Presence, & Prayer