Megan

“Christianity teaches that, contra fatalism, suffering is overwhelming; contra Buddhism, suffering is real; contra karma, suffering is often unfair; but contra secularism, suffering is meaningful. There is a purpose to it, and if faced rightly, it can drive us like a nail deep into the love of God and into more stability and spiritual power than you can imagine.”
― Timothy Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering

“The old man blinked at the young lady, "You are seeking permanence."
"I guess I am!”
― Tom Hanks, Uncommon Type

“He gives like a king — no, He gives as only God can give. Behold, your God has not only given you a few minted coins of gold, but He has endowed you with the mines themselves. He has not, as it were, handed you a cup of cold water, but He has brought you to the flowing fountain and given the well itself to you. God Himself is ours: “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul” (Lamentations 3:24).

If you must have a little list of what He has given you, ponder the following: He has given you a name and a place among His people. He has given the rights and nature of His sons. He has given you the complete forgiveness of all your sins, and you have it now. He has given you a robe of righteousness that you are wearing now. He has given you a superlative loveliness in Christ Jesus. He has given you access to Him and acceptance at the mercy seat. He has given you this world and worlds to come. He has given you all that He has. He has given you His own Son, and how shall He now refuse you anything? Oh, He has given as only God could.”
― Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Practice of Praise

“O that Christians would learn to live with one eye on Christ crucified and the other on his coming in glory! If everlasting joys were more in your thoughts, spiritual joys would abound more in your hearts. No wonder you are comfortless when heaven is forgotten. When Christians let fall their heavenly expectations but heighten their earthly desires, they are preparing themselves for fear and trouble. Who has met with a distressed, complaining soul where either a low expectation of heavenly blessings, or too high a hope for joy on earth is not present? What keeps us under trouble is either we do not expect what God has promised, or we expect what he did not promise.”
― Richard Baxter