I recently finished the book The Shack. If you’ve never heard about it, click here to visit the book’s site so I don’t take up this post on a summary. I highly encourage you to read it! Whenever I was done, I felt like I had a closer relationship with God. It sounds silly, but the book makes Him feel more real and friendly I guess. I also felt more in touch with the rest of the Holy Trinity: Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Again, I cannot recommend this book any more. P.S. if you read a quote that says Papa, that’s how the book refers to God. I LOVE that, it makes it so much easier to talk to someone affectionally by calling him a name like that other than the almighty God. 

Anyways, I’m going to be spending the next few Wednesdays sharing my favorite quotes out of the books that might help you with a certain topic. This week is pain. I ended this book around the time of the awful Sandy Hook tragedy that occurred shortly before Christmas. Some of these quotes (all from the voice of God, or “Papa”, in the book) helped me wrap my head around that– so I hope they bring some time of comfort if you are experience any type of pain right now, which I sincerely hope you aren’t.

• Consider this: when all you can see is your pain, perhaps then you lose sight of me? (pg. 98)
• There are millions of reasons to allow pain and hurt and suffering rather than to eradicate them, but most of those reasons can be understood within each person’s story. I am not evil. You are the ones who embrace fear and pain and power and rights so readily in your relationships. But your choices are also not stronger than my purposes, and I will use every choice you make for the ultimate good and the most loving outcome. (pg. 128)
• Could I have prevented it? The answer is yes…. At this point, all I have to offer you as an answer are my love and goodness, and my relationship with you. I did not purpose [Missy's] death, but does not mean I can’t use it for good. (pg. 224)
• Forgiveness in no way requires you to trust (or stop being angry at) the one you forgive. But should he finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation. And somethings the road may even take you to the miracle of fully restored trust. (pg. 228)