All these troubles you've been having aren't a punishment from God. He wants to use them to draw you closer to himself.

You're feeling the flames, Ezra, but that's part of the process. This pot I just made won't be useful for anything until it goes through that fire." He pointed to the kiln, where waves of heat shimmered above it. "The pots baking in there right now would be useless if they didn't endure the heat.

Our faith often grows stronger when we have to defend our beliefs, the same way that patriotism flowers and blooms when our country is threatened.

Anyone can believe and sing praises on the Temple Mount when the sun is shining, but true praise is sung in the darkest valley when the Accuser tells you to curse God for making you suffer so much pain.

Our trials are supposed to turn us toward God, but we whine and complain and wish someone would turn down the fire so we could have our old life back the way it was.

Smooth seas don't produce skillful sailors.' It's the rought waters that train us to e His disciples. He uses the turbulent times I our lives to prepare us for His purposes-if we'll let Him.

What if disappointment is really the exact appointment your soul needs to radically encounter God?

God is using all of your experiences, both good and bad, to develop your character to match your calling.

Remember: The pain isn't the enemy. Pain is the indicator that brokenness exists. Pain is the reminder that the real enemy is trying to take us out and bring us down by keeping us stuck in broken places. Pain is the gift that motivates us to fight with brave tenacity and fierce determination knowing there's healing on the other side.

God won't give you more than you can handle." But that's not actually in the Bible. God does say He won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and that He always provides a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). But that's not the same as God not giving us more than we can handle. He sometimes will allow more and more and more.

When we know Christ, it should show in our overflow, regardless of our relative success or discouragement in the face of rejection.

The biblical way to be preserved is to be pressed. And being pressed can certainly feel like being crushed.