All pain we experience is intended to move us closer to the goal of being holy as He is holy.
Jerry BridgesA son or daughter in any human family is either born to or adopted by the parents. By definition, a child can't be both. But with God we're both born of Him and adopted by Him.
Jerry BridgesWhich of us, then, does not offend frequently with our tongue? The real problem, however, is not our tongues but our hearts.
Jerry BridgesBecause peace is a fruit of the Spirit, we are dependent upon the Spirit's work in our lives to produce the desire and the means to pursue peace. But we are also responsible to use the means He has given us and to take all practical steps to attain both peace within and peace with others.
Jerry BridgesI realize anew that, just as we must learn to obey God one choice at a time, we must also learn to trust God one circumstance at a time. Trusting God is not a matter of my feelings but of my will. I never feel like trusting God when adversity strikes, but I can choose to do so even when I don’t feel like it. That act of the will, though, must be based on belief, and belief must be based on truth.
Jerry Bridges