We live in an age where what Paul told Timothy is becoming more and more true: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Tim.4:3) The current religious landscape certainly lends credence to that. Whether it be the health/wealth teaching or the NAR, people are not discerning at all. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

One of the biggest heresies is that God does not want His children to suffer. When in fact, the opposite is true. Faith is not living in the sunshine all the time, but also learning that difficulty may be God’s training room for me. If I build a house and it is always sunny and never rains, how will I know if it leaks?

While life’s troubles can sometimes me us feel like we are in the shadows, grace reminds us that shadows are not possible without the sun, without the light of grace. In fact, without the sun shadows become permanent darkness. (p.20)

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

“Father, let me not resent the shadow. Let me not resent the difficulties. Instead, let them drive me to you. Let me hunger for your presence. Let me thirst for a drink from your well. Let me see Your grace in my shadow.”

{Quote is from In the Shadow of Grace}