I agree we have enough books that attempt to explain why God allows suffering, presumably in a way that lets God off the hook. And while much smarter men than I have constructed elaborate systems in this pursuit, they are by definition exercises in speculation.

Death is the operative device that sets us free in Christ - when we die, we truly live.

The truth is, narratives of self-justification burble beneath more of our relationships and endeavors than we would care to admit.

Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. Grace is being loved when you are unlovable.

You are not obligated to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and find a way to conquer the odds, to be stronger or transform yourself into some better version of yourself. The pain you are feeling (whatever the degree) may be a reminder that things are not as they should be.

The gospel is not about a lifestyle that we live, it's about the law-fulfilling life that Christ lived.

Jesus has done everything for you.