“The burden of suffering seems to be a tombstone hung around our necks. Yet in reality it is simply the weight necessary to hold the diver down while he is searching for pearls.”

- Julius Richter, Streams in the Desert

“Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life – throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence on God.”

- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

“I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

- Psalm 27:13-14

“The strength of a ship is only fully demonstrated when it faces a hurricane, and the power of the gospel can only be fully exhibited when a Christian is subjected to some fiery trial. We must understand that for God to give ’songs in the night,’ He must first make it night.”

- Nathaniel William Taylor, Streams in the Desert

“Dear friend, God may send you some valuable gifts wrapped in unattractive paper. But do not worry about the wrappings, for you can be sure that inside He has hidden treasures of love, kindness, and wisdom. If we will simply take what he sends and trust Him for the blessings inside, we will learn the meaning of the secrets of His providence, even in times of darkness.”

- A.B. Simpson, Streams in the Desert

“Remember your word to your servant,
because you have given me hope.
This is my comfort in my trouble,
that your promise gives me life.”

- Psalm 119:49-50

“Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day:  Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen”

- The Divine Hours, adapted from The Book of Common Prayer

“So if you are suffering according to God’s will,
keep on doing what is right,
and trust yourself to the God who made you,
for he will never fail you.”

- I Peter 4:19

“Our thought life – not our circumstances – determines whether we are content.”

- Linda Dillow, Calm My Anxious Heart

“My dear God, I have never thanked You for my thorns.  I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses but not once for my thorns.  I have always looked forward to the place where I will be rewarded for my cross, but I have never thought of my cross as a present glory itself.

“Teach me, O God, to glory in my cross.  Teach me the value of my thorns.  Show me how I have climbed to You through the path of pain.  Show me it is through my tears I have seen my rainbows.”

- George Matheson (1842-1906)