Perspective on life...

"Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God."

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but realizing something else is more important than it."

"Faith doesn't mean never having questions, but accepting when there are no immediate answers."

These are some quotes (not from me, from others) that have inspired me lately. It's important to remember than God is always in control of everything. He is good, and he cares. He is stronger than whatever we go through, and he can help us to be strong. I've lost sight of that a lot lately, and I'm trying to focus on it now. Sometimes everything seems like a mess, and it is...but his ways are higher than ours. Our job is not to worry about the future or try to figure it all out, but to trust that whatever happens will be for a reason and part of his plan.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." -Matthew 10: 29-31

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."- 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."- Isaiah 41: 10

"As the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."- Isaiah 55: 9

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. " -Matthew 6: 25-34