Many people in the throes of suffering, disappointment, and despair, feel utterly stuck in their circumstances. They see no hope beyond their day-to-day drudgery of disability routines; but when hurting families place themselves under the shower of God's mercy, suddenly the clouds part. They realize there's hope, life, and even joy beyond their suffering.

When we hurt, God doesn't always give us lots of words; he gives us the Word; the Word made flesh who is intimately acquainted with our grief and suffering. That's what helps the most.

There is this fine line between presenting to You all of my weakness and thinking that it can't be done. In Your strength, I find my own.

He has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace.

God wants us to be a good example to others who are observing us.

Jesus went without comfort so that you might have it. He postponed joy so that you might share in it. He willingly chose isolation so that you might never be alone in your hurt and sorrow. He had no real fellowship so that fellowship might be yours, this moment. This alone is enough cause for great gratitude!

Cancer is such a wake-up call to remind us how high the cosmic stakes really are and how short and brief and frail life really is.