God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as his chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness deepens dependency on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away.

But there's something earthy about my response to God that further sickens Satan. I believe he views disabilities as his last great stronghold to defame the good character of God. Suffering is that last frontier he exploits to smear God's trustworthiness.

Yes, disability is terribly difficult and chronic pain can eat away at your peace of mind.

Like a black, velvety cloth set against diamonds, your disability provides a remarkable backdrop that magnifies patience, perseverance, endurance, and an uncomplaining spirit. These Christlike qualities that God longs to cultivate in your life are amplified against your obvious hardships. Your chronic condition is, no doubt, obvious to others—but what God wants to make obvious to others is your perseverance and lack of complaint.

It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are, the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.

Still, if it comes to the point where the blue acrylic dappled with cirrus suggests the Lord, say Give me strength to sustain the hurt, and learn it by heart like a decent lyric.

How can we who are so weak in ourselves, so inferior in power to the enemies confronting us, bear up under our trials which are so numerous, so protracted, so crushing? We could not, and therefore Divine grace has provided for us an all-sufficient Helper. Without His aid we had long since succumbed, mastered by our trials. Hope looks forward to the Glory to come; in the weary interval of waiting, the Spirit supports our poor hearts and keeps grace alive within us.

Christianity takes for granted the absence of any self-help and offers a power which is nothing less than the power of God.

It is hard to be brave, when you're only a Very Small Animal.

Prayer begins where our power ends.

Americans are not a perfect people, but we are called to a perfect mission.

And I deal with all that by being like a perfectionist. But that's okay.