God made you to love him supremely, but he lost you. He returned to get you back, but it took the cross to do it. He absorbed your darkness so that one day you can finally and dazzlingly become your true self and take your seat at his eternal feast.

Like a baby learning language, we learn how to communicate with God by listening to His words first.

Trust is accepting what God sends into your life whether you understand it or not.

Suffering dispels the illusion that we have the strength and competence to rule our own lives and save ourselves.

A triune God would call us to converse with him . . . because he wants to share the joy he has. Prayer is our way of entering into the happiness of God himself.

Out of the cross comes the resurrection. Out of weakness comes real strength.

Rejoicing and repentance must go together. Repentance without rejoicing will lead to despair. Rejoicing without repentance is shallow and will only provide passing inspiration instead of deep change.