What a sweet testimony when we hear that Jesus is personal to someone. Thanks for sharing this, Beverley. I know you have had trials in your life, but for you to know that Jesus helped you bear this, is encouraging to us all!

I have come to know him in a personal way. I wish he could have taken away all my trials and tribulations, but then if he done, I would have learnt nothing and had nothing to give to those who now stand in need. For every trial we suffer He has already suffered for, not just for out sins, but also for all our pains, heartaches and sorrows and He calls to us to lay our burdens before Him that He can make them light. In the midst of trials nothing feels light, but has I look back I can truly see how Jesus Christ helped me carried my burdens and brought angels into my life in human form too. My gratitude for knowing Him is beyond words, but I do know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, my friend, my brother, my Saviour and my Redeemer.

Yes, yes, Barbara….if Packer would just have substituted “allows” instead of “fills,” I probably would have been fine with it. 🙂 But I get the feeling he’s pretty intentional with his word choices (made it a little hard to read at times because his writing could get dense). Nonetheless, I do trust God to work everything out it he end, so I don’t really have to understand the why anyway. I enjoyed reading in tandem too–I always find new things that I missed when I read someone else’s post too.

I’m with you, Floyd: I believe God can use all our scenarios in life (whether caused or allowed) for our good and his glory. That’s the bottom line of the whole thing here. Just another one of the miraculous things about God!

I love how you bring up quotes that I somehow missed, like the first of the last four you shared. I know I read the chapters, but some things stand out to me while others I don’t even remember reading. One nice thing about reading along together.

I have the tendency to over simplify issues. God can use all scenarios in life to and for His perfect will and in His sovereignty either causes or allows all things.

Most of the lessons I’ve learned the hard way in life were due to my own exercising of my free will. Consequences… Sheesh!