Night Driving Quotes

“The forgiveness of the Father doesn’t wait for us to demonstrate adequate, sincere repentance. It doesn’t let us humbly accept a servant position in the household, or a chance gradually to earn our Father’s favor again through a life of obedience. Christ’s forgiveness precedes our repentance—and calls it forth.”
― Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul

“In every instance, forgiveness morphs into a self-serving tool of manipulation we use to control other people. Inside our clouded minds, we convince ourselves we’re doing what’s ultimately best for us.”
― Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul

“But if he does three key things—demonstrates adequate, sincere repentance, humbly accepts a servant position in the household, and gradually earns his father’s favor again through a demonstrable life of obedience—then perhaps everything will be made right again.”
― Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul

“Forgiveness, like life itself, doesn’t have our name scrawled on it. It isn’t our property, much less our tool or weapon. Those who sin against us don’t owe us an apology. They don’t owe us repentance, tears, promises of improvement, vows never to repeat what they’ve done. Nothing is what they owe. When we forgive, we are pressing into the palm of a fellow transgressor the coin of freedom with which Christ has enriched us. We give only what we first received. When the Spirit reveals this to us, we discover what a joy it is to bury the hatchet in an unmarked grave.”
― Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul

“In forgiveness we lose the control we thought we had, because there is no controlling the unrelenting, radical grace of a forgiveness-crazy Father. This love is frightening to the careful, reprehensible to the legalist, dangerous to the moralist. But if you’ve experienced it, you know it’s like being yanked out of the grave and having your coffin lid pried open. It is the most unexpected pleasure in the world to be loved without condition by a God who makes no demands.”
― Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul

“Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” the Psalmist asks. Just as the glory of God was concealed beneath Jesus, a common-looking man; just as his victory over sin was hidden beneath the shame and blood and suffering of the cross; so God is also veiled beneath the darkness and grief as we travel the crooked path leading from brokenness to healing.”
― Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul

“You have had a good deal of pain in your life, and you have been a good steward of it.”13”
― Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul

“We’ll manipulate forgiveness, because ultimately it is ours to give to whomever we desire, under whatever conditions we choose, to achieve whatever ends serve us best.”
― Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul

“God will snatch away the forgiveness which our repentance, humility, and obedience made possible.”
― Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul