Counseling the Hard Cases Quotes

“Hope is not defined by the absence of hardship. Rather, hope is found in God’s grace in the midst of hardship. Hope is found in his promise to give us a future.”
― Stuart Scott, Counseling the Hard Cases

“We can agree with what the gospel says about our sinfulness without becoming overwhelmed by guilt and shame. Further, we do not have to prove that we are victims rather than victimizers out of a desperate effort to persuade ourselves that we are righteous. We have Christ’s righteousness already. We can rest in this.”
― Stuart Scott, Counseling the Hard Cases

“It might not seem good, and it might not feel good. But the seeming and the feeling are not definitive. “Think of the crucifixion of Christ- was that good?” I asked Mary.

“No.” She immediately replied. Then she caught herself and continued, “Well… yes.”

I watched the light go on in her mind. Mary knew God had sent Christ to suffer and atone for our sins. He was tortured. He was mocked. He bled. Had Mary and I been present at his crucifixion, we would have stood beneath the cross and asked, “Why? Why is God letting him suffer like this?” But the beautiful truth is that God’s ways are higher than ours. Our God transformed the brutal, horrifying death of his innocent Son into the best good his people could ever experience.”
― Dan Wickert, Counseling the Hard Cases: True Stories Illustrating the Sufficiency of God’s Resources in Scripture

“God alone -in all of His beauty and grace- can promise us joy forever.”
― Dan Wickert, Counseling the Hard Cases: True Stories Illustrating the Sufficiency of God’s Resources in Scripture

“As James MacDonald wrote, “To really be gripped by your identity in God’s greatness you must wade out of the shallow waters of self-absorption into the deep waters of praising him at all times for all things.”
― Stuart Scott, Counseling the Hard Cases

“God did not give us his gospel just so we could embrace it and be converted. Actually, he offers it to us every day as a gift that keeps on giving to us everything we need for life and godliness.”
― Stuart Scott, Counseling the Hard Cases