“But we must resist . . . horizontal thinking — a perspective that focuses on the here and now and leaves God out of the equation. It helps no one.”- Charles Swindoll In Chapter 2 (“What If . . . You Suddenly Lose Everything?”) of What If . . . God Has Other Plans?, Charles […]
“Can I accept the invitation of suffering? I understand now what the invitation is. In our pain, God invites us to express our grief about the unraveling of life. At the same time, we are invited to unabashedly, unashamedly declare that we want it back. No more . . . pretending. Just the naked self, […]
“According to Jesus, the state of being blessed . . . is a promise of the experience of supernatural joy in the midst of suffering, of God’s presence in the midst of pain, and of the hope that one day, we’ll experience blessing in full when God’s kingdom comes.”- Tina Boesch “Blessed are those who […]
” . . . minds often remain closed to truth until hearts have been opened by compassion. There is certainly a place for logical, left-brained explanations of faith. But compassion is the ultimate apologetic. There is no defense against it.”- Mark Batterson “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in […]
“Can you imagine how much less anxiety, fear, angst, and heartbreak we would have if we could truly trust in God? I don’t mean just saying we trust God because it’s the Christian thing to say. . . . I mean having a marked moment. A real live moment we can point to and remind […]
Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life . . . (Crossway, 2018) Paul David Tripp (DMin – Westminster Theological Seminary) wrote Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense in 2018. His previous books include Dangerous Calling and New Morning Mercies. Pastor Tripp’s stated purpose in writing Suffering reflects his desire to help those suddenly blindsided […]
“Suffering is the intersection where life’s deepest pains meet with the most wonderful blessings of grace. . . . Suffering is where weakness intersects with strength, confusion intersects with wisdom, sorrow intersects with joy, and despair intersects with hope.”- Paul David Tripp In Chapter 14 (“The Comfort of a Heart at Rest”), the final chapter […]
“The picture of cracked vessels with treasure shining through the cracks is a picture of being filled. . . . God doesn’t always fill your cracks but often uses your cracks to fill you up with a sense of his presence, grace, and glory.”- Paul David Tripp “We now have this light shining in our […]
“It is frustrating to every sufferer to share their travail with people who don’t have a clue and can’t relate because they have no first-hand knowledge of what you’re talking about. Jesus is not just a student of our suffering; he became a first-hand participant in it.”- Paul David Tripp “For we do not have […]
“So denial is never a biblical response to suffering. If you have to deny your difficult realities to obtain some kind of temporary peace, you may enjoy temporary peace, but it’s important to know that you are not exercising biblical faith.”- Paul David Tripp In Chapter 7 (“The Denial Trap”) of Suffering, Paul David Tripp […]
“What you fear will be directly influenced by where you focus the thoughts of your heart. There is a direct connection between what you meditate on and what you fear.”- Paul David Tripp “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”- Proverbs 3:23 (ESV) As Paul David Tripp continues […]
“Suffering of whatever kind, with whatever it may bring your way, creates a focused awareness that is part of the burden that every sufferer bears. . . . This new awareness becomes fertile soil for a new set of fears that have the power to shape the way you interpret and live your life.”- Paul […]