The Psalms wrap nouns and verbs around our pain better than any other book.

The success of God's Word in our lives is linked intrinsically to our application of its truth.

Suffering provides the gym equipment on which my faith can be exercised.

God's purpose in increasing our trials is to sensitize us to people we never would have been able to relate to otherwise.

God lets us continue to feel much of sin's sting through suffering while we're heading for heaven. This constantly reminds us of what we're being delivered from; exposing sin for the poison it is.

Programs, systems and methods sit well in the ivory towers of monasteries or in the wooden arms of icons. Head knowledge comes from the pages of a theology text. But the invitation to know God - truly know Him - is always an invitation to suffer. Not to suffer alone, but to suffer with Him.

There is nothing that moves a loving father's soul quite like his child's cry.