Quotes from Lysa TerKeurst

If I'm trusting myself, I will stare at all the possible ways I could fail. If I'm trusting God, I will stare at all the possible ways He'll use this whether I fail or succeed.

On the other side of every hardship is a resurrection.

Weak moments don't make weak faith. Weak moments make us even more aware of our need to press in to faith.

I can't control the things that happen to me each day, but I can control how I think about them. I can say to myself, "I have a choice to have destructive thoughts or constructive thoughts right now. I can wallow in what's wrong and make things worse, or I can ask God for a better perspective to help me see good even when I don't feel good." Indeed, when we gain new perspectives, we can see new ways of thinking.

God is using all of your experiences, both good and bad, to develop your character to match your calling.

Replace the negative talk that will hinder you. Replace it with praises for God, who will deliver you.

We think we want comfort in the I-don't-know times of life. But comfort isn't a solution to seek; rather, it's a by-product we'll reap when we stay close to the Lord. What if the comfort and certainties we crave today are a deadly recipe for complacency that will draw our hearts further and further away from God?

Remember: The pain isn't the enemy. Pain is the indicator that brokenness exists. Pain is the reminder that the real enemy is trying to take us out and bring us down by keeping us stuck in broken places. Pain is the gift that motivates us to fight with brave tenacity and fierce determination knowing there's healing on the other side.

When my brain begs me to doubt God, as it most certainly does, I find relief for my unbelief by laying down my human assessments and assumptions; I turn from the Tree of Knowledge and fix my gaze on the Tree of Life.

remember the decisions you make determine the schedule you keep. The schedule you keep determines the life you live. And how you live your life determines how you spend your soul.

Evaluation eliminates frustration. We should also evaluate unrealistic expectations. Unrealistic expectations become unmet expectations. And unmet expectations are like kindling wood-it only takes but a spark of frustration to set them ablaze and burn those involved.

Feelings are indicators, not dictators, child. They can indicate where your heart is in the moment, but that doesn't mean they have the right to dictate your behavior and boss you around. You are more than the sum total of your feelings and perfectly capable of that little gift from Jesus called self-control!

When sin entered the world, it broke the goodness of God's design. And sin absolutely breaks God's heart. But in no way did sin affect the goodness of God. He has a plan, a good plan to rid this world of every effect of sin.

God won't give you more than you can handle." But that's not actually in the Bible. God does say He won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and that He always provides a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). But that's not the same as God not giving us more than we can handle. He sometimes will allow more and more and more.

It is necessary for you not to let pain rewrite your memories. And it's absolutely necessary not to let pain ruin your future.

The only way our faith can strengthen is if we use it.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2–4)

While my heart wants to say yes, the reality of my time makes this a no." I've learned the best "no" answers are graciously honest.

The exhausting manipulation and control it takes to protect an identity based on circumstances will crush our hearts and hide the best of who we are behind a wall of insecurity.

No person's rejection can ever exempt me from God's love for me. Period. No question mark. The most beautiful love story ever written is the one you were made to live with God.

Live from the abundant place that you are loved, and you won't find yourself begging others for scraps of love.

Friendships are like plowed open fields ready for growth. What we plant is what will grow. If we plant seeds of reassurance, blessing, and love, we reap a great harvest of security. Of course, if we plant seeds of backbiting, questioning, and doubt, we reap a great harvest of insecurity.

Submission is 'ducking low enough so God can touch your husband.

Compromise built upon compromise equals failure.