God sits enthroned, ready to listen, to help.

I had been searching for joy in the relatively good times of life, now I had to find joy amidst darkness and agony.

Joy is a weapon we use to fight life's battles.

Worry is a subtle way of telling God that He's fallen asleep at the wheel and that things aren't under His authority, but ours.

Wide awake to the presence of God, I realized I had been so focused on asking why a good God allowed bad things to happen that I was missing out on the nearness of God all along. In becoming preoccupied with the why, I was missing the who.

How often have I rattled on with God and said nothing at all? Relying on clichés, throwaway phrases, and high language I'd never use in everyday conversation, I took prayer for granted and lost sight of the wondrous opportunity to draw close to God.

God sits enthroned, ready to listen, to help.