The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy. Our thoughts become shackled, our emotions are chained, the will is almost paralyzed. But when we show mercy, all of these bonds are broken, and we enter into a joyful liberty that frees us to share God's love with others.

Real contentment must come from within. You and I can not change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.

When you and I hurt deeply, what we really need is not an explanation from God but a revelation of God. We need to see how great God is; we need to recover our lost perspective on life. Things get out of proportion when we are suffering, and it takes a vision of something bigger than ourselves to get life's dimensions adjusted again

We do not understand and then obey: that is instruction. We obey by faith, and then we understand: that is illumination.

Trusting God means thinking and acting according to God's word in spite of circumstances, feelings, or consequences.

We must never mistake the process for the result...there is suffering; but this is only the process. God isn't going to stop with the process; He wants to produce the final result. Suffering leads to glory; shame leads to honor; weakness leads to power. This is God's way of doing things.

Life's trials are not easy. But in God's will, each has a purpose. Often He uses them to enlarge you.