Moreover, for the comfort of such men, that they may not despair in temptation, the wise man saith thus of our Lord: In temptation He walketh with him, and bringeth fear and dread upon him, and torments him with His discipline, till He try him in his cogitations, and may trust His soul: And He will establish him, and make a direct way unto him, and make him glad, and will disclose His secrets to him, and will heap upon him as treasures knowledge of understanding and justice. (John Climacus)

And so... Climacus seems to say that it is through temptation and our struggle with temptation that God finds a direct way to us.

The wise man quoted is from the fourth chapter of Ecclesiasticus (or Sirach). A modern translation concludes with, "Then she (Wisdom) will come straight back to them again and gladden them and will reveal her secrets to them." (Sirach 4:18 New Revised Standard Version)

A straight, direct connection with God is forged in the turmoil of temptation. If we do not despair, the outcome is wisdom.