But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, …

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew …

To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame. . . .  To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him. . . . We do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. …

I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul. Psalm 31:7 People who have chronic illness know what it feels like to go through life unseen. Many chronic illnesses are invisible. You experience difficult symptoms, but no one can see …

We can pray in two ways: through unspoken thoughts that we direct toward God and through words that we speak audibly. In both cases, we focus our attention on God, knowing that he surely and certainly hears our prayers, whether they are “unuttered or expressed.” Calvin noted that sometimes the best prayers are silent—inaudible to …