God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
In the darkest night of the soul, Christians have something to hold onto that Job never knew – we know Christ crucified. Christians have learned that when there seems to be no other evidence of God’s love, they cannot escape the cross. “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32)… When we suffer there will sometimes be mystery. Will there also be faith? Yes. If our attention is focused more on the cross and on the God of the cross than on the suffering itself.
“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Mt. 6:9). This petition condemns much more than profane language. Whenever we introduce the Divine name in our speech uselessly and triflingly – when we employ it to turn a sentence, or give emphasis to a statement, or point to an anecdote – when we make the Divine Word the subject-matter of jokes, punning on solemn truths of Revelation, and quoting Scripture with ludicrous adaptations to provoke mirth. And even when we take this great name on our lips in worship without any endeavor to feel the homage it demands, we violate the spirit of this prayer (Newman Hall).