The good news of the gospel [for sufferers] is not an exhortation from above to 'hang on at all costs,' or 'grin and bear it' in the midst of hardship. No, the good news is that God is hanging on to you, and in the end, when all is said and done, the power of God will triumph over every pain and loss.

...this culture of mandatory happiness actually promotes dishonesty and more suffering.

Contrary to popular assumptions, the Bible is not a record of the blessed good, but rather the blessed bad. Thats not a typo. The Bible is a record of the blessed bad. The Bible is not a witness to the best people making it up to God; its a witness to God making it down to the worst people.

Remember on your best day that Jesus had to die for you. Remember on your worst day that he did.

I wish I could say that everything I do is for God’s glory but I can’t. And neither can you. What I can say is Jesus’ blood covers all my efforts to glorify myself.

Our assurance is anchored in the love and grace of God expressed in the glorious exchange: our sin for His righteousness.

The way of God's grace becomes indispensable when we realize that the way of God's law is inflexible.