“The reason it’s a trick question is because most of us want both, especially those of us who’ve been Christians for a while. Said another way, we want to be made whole without having to be broken.” (source)
“It works like this. In surprising ways, suffering makes room in our spirit for us to know and experience the blessing of God’s peace and presence. Without suffering, we simply can’t know his comfort. In mourning, we experience the blessing of God’s presence.” (source)
“‘I feel like I reached this point in my life when I had absolutely nothing left, and it turns out that for the first time in my life, Jesus has become real. Do you know what I mean? Is that unusual?’” (source)
“Jesus will show us that blessings begin and fulfillment is found in the least likely place—the end of ourselves.” (source)
“So, let’s be clear. You will fall into sin. Everyone does. And you’ll still be slow to face your mourning. Everyone is. Just understand that in your hesitancy to mourn your sin, you’re also delaying the blessing of God. There is no way to get to that blessing without the mourning that precedes it.” (source)