#afflict

I had these made special. The design is raised instead of carved in. Can you feel it?" Dillon asked. Hunter ran his fingertip over the outside of the ring. He nodded as a tear formed in the corner of his eye. "Can you tell me what it is?" Dillon asked quietly. Hunter nodded and his voice choked. "Two people…" "Two men," Dillon corrected. "Two men," Hunter said, "pulling each other into the center of a circle." Dillon watched his single tear slip and start sliding down his cheek. "Would you step into that circle with me, Hunter?" Hunter nodded, a small sound escaping him. "Yes. ↗

— Brandon Shire

#design

Of all afflictions, the worst is self-contempt. ↗

— Berthold Auerbach

#worst

God's way of answering the Christian's prayer for more patience, experience, hope and love often is to put him into the furnace of affliction. ↗

— Richard Cecil

#answering #christian #experience #furnace #god

When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines. ↗

— Samuel Rutherford

#am #cellar #choicest #i #i am

These words [of Romans 12:1-2] are overflowingly rich in consolation; for just then when afflictions come over us, we should be of good courage, because that is the good will of God. Therefore we should be greatly pleased when things happen to us which displease us. The "good" will of God creates good out of evil. The "acceptable" will of God moves us cheerfully to love such good. It makes this good acceptable to us, and causes us to agree with it, even if it is evil. The "perfect" will of God will eternally perfect and bring to a[n] end all who are glad. ↗

— Martin Luther

#luther #trials #courage