Suffering provides the gym equipment on which my faith can be exercised.

Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.

my two least-favorite words appeared on the screen: GAME OVER.

William Faulkner was once asked how he went about writing a book. His answer: "It's like building a chicken coop in a high wind. You grab any board or shingle flying by or loose on the ground and nail it down fast." Like becoming a pastor.

When besieged, I'm calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool.

It's the set of the sail, and not the gale that determines the way they go.

Traveling in the way of faith and climbing the ascent to Christ may be difficult, but it is not worrisome. The weather may be adverse, but it is never fatal. We may slip and stumble and fall, but the rope will hold us.

The promise of the psalm—and both Hebrews and Christians have always read it this way—is not that we shall never stub our toes but that no injury, no illness, no accident, no distress will have evil power over us, that is, will be able to separate us from God's purposes in us.

Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.

This joy is not dependent on our good luck in escaping hardship. It is not dependent on our good health and avoidance of pain. Christian joy is actual in the midst of pain, suffering, loneliness and misfortune.

Perseverance does not mean "perfection." It means that we keep going. We do not quit when we find that we are not yet mature and there is a long journey still before us.

Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account.