The chief pang of most trials is not so much the actual suffering itself as our own spirit of resistance to it.

You are surprised at your imperfections,--why? I should infer from that, that your self-knowledge is small. Surely you might rather be astonished that you do not fall into more frequent and more grievous faults, and thank God for His upholding grace.

O my Savior...teach me to pray; implant in me all the dispositions needful for the prayer of the Holy Spirit....Of what use is my prayer if the Holy Spirit does not pray with me? Come, Holy Spirit, come to dwell and work with me! Take possession of my understanding and of my will; govern my actions not only at the moment of prayer but at every moment.

The chief pang of most trials is not so much the actual suffering itself as our own spirit of resistance to it.

Nothing is small or great in God's sight. Whatever He wills becomes great to us, however seemingly trifling; and if once the voice of conscience tells us that He requires anything of us, we have no right to measure its importance.