The pleasant life

"Of course, we thought life with God would always be pleasant. That's how we think when we're still babes. But now as we look back we can say, “Lord, that time I was miserable, that's when You became real in my life. That's when in my prayers I was really honest with You. That's when I had to tell You I was really hurting. I had to lay it at Your feet. Out of that old tree stump You caused a new shoot—a new life—to come up. And through that experience You strengthened me. You taught me. You remade my life into that of a disciple who is not above his master.”

"May God teach us to look at the misery in our lives, the tough times, the hard times, and say, “Yes, but.” The Holy but. Nothing happens to us outside of God's providence and sovereignty. Nothing happens in our lives about which we cannot say, “He meant it for good.” and He works it for good."— The Rest of the Gospel: When the partial Gospel has worn you out, page 228

<idle musing>
As I often say, as I look back on my life, I wouldn't have chosen the path that I followed, but I wouldn't change it. God directed it, every step of the way. He knows better than I do what I need and when. Wesley once said that God is like a pharmacist who dispenses the correct medicine in the correct amounts at the correct time—never too much and never too little.
</idle musing>