Quotes about Adversity

Life in Ravensbruck took place on two separate levels, mutually impossible. One, the observable, external life, grew every day more horrible. The other, the life we lived with God, grew daily better, truth upon truth, glory upon glory.

Give thanks in all circumstances,'" she quoted. "It doesn't say, 'in pleasant circumstances.' Fleas are part of this place where God has put us." And so we stood between piers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.

Oh, my dears, I am sorry for all Dutchmen now who do not know the power of God. For we will be beaten. But He will not.

We knew that in spite of daily mounting risks we had no choice but to move forward. This was evil's hour: we could not run away from it. Perhaps only when human effort had done its best and failed, would God's power alone be free to work.

AND SO THE shadow fell across us that winter afternoon in 1937, but it rested lightly. Nobody dreamed that this tiny cloud would grow until it blocked out the sky. And nobody dreamed that in this darkness each of us would be called to play a role: Father and Betsie and Mr. Kan and Willem—even the funny old Beje with its unmatching floor levels and ancient angles.

He stamped on his cigar stub in the ashtray beside the radio and with it, it seemed, the anger too, for his voice grew gentle again. "Oh, my dears, I am sorry for all Dutchmen now who do not know the power of God. For we will be beaten. But He will not.

But I am in prison, dear lady from Haarlem, a prison stronger than this one.

Failure is the tuition you pay for success.

If you allow your enemy to steal your faith, he can destroy your life and ultimately kill your relationship with God.

You cannot control what happens to you, But you can control how you frame it.

God calls you to stand. Your enemy wants you to fall. So as God's warrior, there are only two acceptable actions. You're either standing or you're getting back up. Even if Satan trips you, you're not down forever. Get back up. Never stay down.

My point is when the odds are fifty-fifty in an area of your life that matters, you change your behavior.