![]() Thus grace, for the most part, acts slowly. It is because we are but for a time, and He has been for eternity. He is slow: we are swift and precipitate. In the spiritual life God chooses to try our patience first of all by His slowness. Nouwen, Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life This dark power has driven many of the greatest artists into self-destruction- Henri J.M. In many people’s lives, there is a nearly diabolic chain in which their anxieties grow according to their successes. And the more we allow our accomplishments - the results of our actions - to become the criteria of our self-esteem, the more we are going to walk on our mental and spiritual toes, never sure if we will be able to live up to the expectations which we created by our last successes. ![]() In short, we are worthwhile because we have successes. And we are important because someone considers us indispensable. We are helpful because someone says thanks. We are intelligent because someone gives us a high grade. That means we are not only in the world, but also of the world. And before we are fully aware of it, we have sold our soul to the many grade-givers. Used with permission.When we start being too impressed by the results of our work, we slowly come to the erroneous conviction that life is one large scoreboard where someone is listing the points to measure our worth. “Why should I, a finite and fallen creature, expect that I will understand God’s reasons for doing what he does and allowing what he allows?” (p. Only those who understand that this world languishes under the Curse will marvel at the beauties he provides us despite that Curse.” (p. “Our birthright does not include pain-free living. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.” (p. For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. “The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of Heaven the worst of life on Earth is a glimpse of Hell. “God uses suffering to achieve the glorious transformation of our characters to prepare us for service and joy in the next life.” (p. Only the resurrection can solve the gigantic problems of this world-and resurrection cannot come without death.” (pp. ![]() “The promise of resurrection is what overshadows all present evil and suffering and assures its definitive end. “If God permits evils not randomly but with deliberate purpose so that he will reverse the Curse and bring eternal blessing, then even though we don’t understand how, he deserves our trust, not our attacks.” (p. “Whenever you feel tempted to ask God, ‘Why did you do this to me?’ look at the cross and ask, ‘Why did you do that for me?’” (p. Isn’t it more remarkable that God would create a world in which no one would suffer more than he did?” (p. “Some people can’t believe God would create a world in which people would suffer so much. “One thing we must never say about God is that he doesn’t understand what it means to be utterly abandoned, suffer terribly, and die miserably.” (p. And the good trumps the bad, because though the bad was temporary, the good is eternal.” (p. “What is good about Good Friday? Why isn’t it called Bad Friday? Because out of the appallingly bad came what was inexpressibly good. “The Cross is God’s answer to the question, ‘Why don’t you do something about evil?’” (p.75) ![]() On the contrary, evil and suffering wouldn’t exist if we were as good as God is.” (p. “We argue that if God were as good as we are, then evil and suffering wouldn’t exist. “When asked what allowed her to endure the concentration camp, Corrie ten Boom responded, ‘Not what, but Who.’” (p. First, for his eternal glory. Second, for our eternal good.” (p. “If we come to see the purpose of the universe as God’s long-term glory rather than our short-term happiness, then we will undergo a critical paradigm shift in tackling the problem of evil and suffering.” (p. ![]() That’s not the Bible that’s Star Wars.” (p. “Satan and God do not engage in hand-to-hand combat, with Satan sometimes getting the edge. From Paul’s perspective, this trade-off will in eternity prove to be a great bargain.” (p. “Paul insists that our sufferings will result in our greater good-God’s people will be better off eternally because they suffer temporarily. “Our own suffering is often our wake-up call to the world’s sufferings.” (p. “Protection from conflict produces soft, spoiled, and selfish people, while enduring conflict is more likely to produce someone strong, capable, and caring.” (p. ![]()
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