The world is getting colder, angrier and deadlier; more violent and desperate, I think. Spirits—that is, hearts, attitudes, emotions—seem to be heavy these days. Like we’re struggling to even breathe, or at least that’s my impression. Bon Jovi said, “Keep the Faith.” Eric Clapton said he was “Running on Faith,” and Kid Rock described his “Lonely Road of Faith.” Real faith, however, comes at a cost of tears and blood. Sometimes it may even cost us our life, but it is the only path to genuine peace of mind.
We experience the assault of tragedy, agony or surgery, which we swear will destroy us. Yet somehow it doesn’t. Our spirit grows stronger, wiser, and we move on. It's actually a miracle of the highest order; the pain adds layers to our spirit, strengthening us bit by bit, piece by piece. Until one day we finally see what God was up to when he allowed all the pain and misery and heartache and depression and anxiety to be heaped upon us like burning coals…