“When I was a child I often had a toothache, and I knew that if I went to my mother she would give me something that would deaden the pain for that night and let me get to sleep. But I did not go to my mother— at least not till the pain became very bad...

I knew she would take me to the dentist the next morning... I wanted immediate relief from pain, but I could not get it without having my teeth set permanently right.” – C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. - Romans 8:29 (ESV)

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. - Romans 8:29 (The Message)

The more I lose in this world, the more of a treasure he becomes.

“How does God’s grace engage your sufferings? We may know the right answer. And yet we don’t know it. It is a hard answer. But we make it sound like a pat answer. God sets about a long slow answering. But we try to make it a quick fix. His answer insists on being lived out over time and into the particulars.

We act as if just saying the right words makes it so. God’s answer insists on changing you into a different kind of person. But we act as if some truth, principle, strategy, or perspective might simply be incorporated into who we already are.

God personalizes his answer on hearts with an uncanny flexibility. But we turn it into a formula: ‘If you just believe _________. If you just do _________. If you just remember _________.’ No important truth ever contains the word ‘just’ in the punch line.

How does God’s grace meet you in your sufferings? We can make the right answer sound old hat, but I guarantee this: God will surprise you.

He will make you stop. You will struggle. He will bring you up short. You will hurt. He will take his time. You will grow in faith and in love. He will deeply delight you. You will find the process harder than you ever imagined—and better. Goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life (Ps. 23:6).

No matter how many times you’ve heard it, no matter how long you’ve known it, no matter how well you can say it, God’s answer will come to mean something better than you could ever imagine. - David Powlison

The Gospel is more real and on display when we are broken than at any other time.

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.

21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The L ORD gave, and the L ORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the L ORD.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. - Job 1:20-22