Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No believer is struck by a thorn, or by any hardship less than it, except that Allah Almighty raises his rank by it and forgives his faults by it."
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الجنائز / 6541