“We don't seek the painful experiences that hew our identities, but we seek our identities in the wake of painful experiences. We cannot bear a pointless torment, but we can endure great pain if we believe that it's purposeful. Ease makes less of an impression on us than struggle. We could have been ourselves without our delights, but not without the misfortunes that drive our search for meaning. 'Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities,' St. Paul wrote in Second Corinthians, 'for when I am weak, then I am strong.'” IfsBelieveHas BeensMotivationalPainStrongPleasureStruggleIdentityBearsWeakEndurePainfulDelightImpressionEaseMisfortunesTormentCould Have BeenPointlessSearch For MeaningInfirmityI Am StrongCorinthiansPainful Experiences Author:Andrew Solomon
“There is a time when every person who encounters Jesus, who believes Jesus is the Son of God, decides that they will spend their life following Him. Some people, like the Apostle Paul, make this decision the minute they meet Him, the minute they become a Christian. Others, like the Apostle Peter, endure years of half-hearted commitment and spiritual confusion before leaping in with all their passion. Still others may enjoy some benefits of God's love and grace without entering into the true joy of a marriage with their maker.” PeopleYearsBelieveMayPersonsStillsChristianSpiritualJoyPassionJesusEnjoyDecisionHalfGraceMinutesSonBenefitsCommitmentEndureFollowingConfusionEncountersMakersPeterEnteringHeartedApostlesGod's LoveTrue JoyApostle PaulHalf Hearted Book:Miller 3-in-1: Blue Like Jazz, Through Painted Deserts, Searching for God Source: Miller 3-in-1: Blue Like Jazz, Through Painted Deserts, Searching for God
“It's the self that suffers, and there's a place where the self--ceases. I don't know how to say it. But I believe that the reality--the truth that I recognize in suffering as I don't in comfort and happiness--that the reality of pain is not pain. If you can get through it. If you can endure it all the way.” IfsKnowsWayBelieveSelfRealityPainSufferingI BelieveKnow HowComfortEndureCeaseComfort And Happiness Author:Ursula K. Le Guin