Grief is God's Gift?

Rick says some really strange things, like:
"Everyone is going through loss in life. Grief is God's gift to us. It's how we get through....There is no growth without change, and there is no change without loss."

Rick Warren, Huffington Post article by Jaweed Keleem 3/28/2014

Rick And Kay Warren Launch Saddleback Church Mental Health Ministry After Son's Suicide

Explore  More: See also Facebook post by Rick posted May 17, 2014,

https://www.facebook.com/pastorrickwarren

Grief is God's gift to us?
See Lamentations 3:32-33. 

( "But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion 

according to the multitude of his mercies.

For he doth not afflict willingly 

nor grieve the children of men.")

Grief is a gift from God?
How do we know this?
Does he just make stuff up?

See Proverbs 10: 4-7 and see who's ways bring grief.

(Proverbs 10:4-7....The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, 

will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.  

His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far 

above out of his sight: as for all his enemies,

 he puffeth at them.  He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: 

for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of

 cursing and deceit and fraud: 

under his tongue is mischief and vanity.)

Rick suggests that grief is a gift from God?  Where on earth does he get this notion?  This kind of teaching, (that grief is God's gift to us)  is terribly flawed.

The gift of God is not GRIEF.  To say such a thing is bizarre.
(See Romans 6:23)  The gift of God... his comfort and love, salvation from sin and death is what brings us through our grievious times.  God gives us hope and joy, patience to endure difficulties.  His gifts might include love, peace that passes understanding, the promise of forgiveness and eternal life though faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ; but "grief?"

Jesus did say, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4) But it is the comfort that is the blessing not the sorrow, agony, distress, sadness, woe, despair, pain and grief. The reason they are blessed is because Jesus will comfort them.  After all, they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  

Comfort is the gift of God.