thank you, edward t. welch:

"instead of teaching us how to identify the [reasons why we are] suffering, Scripture directs us to the God who knows all things and is fully trustworthy. in other words, Scripture doesn't give us knowledge so that we will have intellectual mastery of certain events; it gives us knowledge so that we would know and trust God. 'God, i don't know what You are doing, but You do, and that is enough.'"

"you are standing at a crossroads and you will take one path or another. there is no such thing as not choosing, because 'not choosing' is one of the paths. it too is a choice. your decision is between calling out to the Lord or not...You can sit in silence or cry out the Lord. you can cry on your bed or cry out to the Lord. these are the two choices."

"....'i have lost the most important thing in life' could be reinterpreted as, 'God is not enough.'"

"the challenge for us is to think as God thinks. in other words, our present thinking must be turned upside-down. we once thought that suffering was to be avoided at all costs; now, we must understand that the path to becoming more like Jesus goes through hardship, and it is much better than the path of brief and superficial comfort without Jesus."

"humility says, 'God owes me nothing.' 'He is not my servant; i am His.' 'God is God, and He has the right to do anything He wants.'"

"Love produces hope. If we, in our misery, are absolutely persuaded of God's love, we will be confident that He will deliver us. Therefore, we hope in Him. We can wait as long as it takes, because we are sure that He hears us and loves us. He will come. He will deliver...God's love inspires both an eagerness to be with Him and a confidence that He is true to His Word, so we know that He will come."

out of the depths i cry to you, O LORD;

O Lord, hear my voice.

let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

if You, O LORD, kept a record of sins,

O Lord, who could stand?

But with You there is forgiveness;

therefore You are feared.

i wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

and in HIs Word i put my hope.

my soul waits for the Lord

more than the watchmen wait for the morning,

more than the watchmen wait for the morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,

for with the LORD is unfailing love

and with Him is full redemption.

He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.