God's word is "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb 4:12). At Providence, we believe that is true, but we also acknowledge that sometimes it is very hard. As the book of Ezra ends, we see the difficult, human cost of sin and repentance. As we learn the truth of God's word, we also deal with how we are to respond when we don't always understand or agree with what we read. Far from a crisis of faith, the difficulty of applying and understanding God's word is an opportunity to deepen our faith in Him and His word.