Love Divine, all loves excelling, As I pray for my suffering sisters in Christ, Your Romans 8 love songs fill my heart. Your love is far stronger than our tribulation. It continues steadfast when our own weakens, in our constant Read more
Begone, unbelief, my Savior is nearโฆ (“Begone, Unbelief, My Savior is Near,โ Newton, J., p. d. Sing to the tune of โO, Worship the King!โ) Into my fears. Into the tempterโs sneer that You arenโt with me, Emmanuel. That this Read more
Blessed Father God, On this difficult day, it comforts me to know that Your strong believing children felt โso utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itselfโ (2 Cor. 1:8 ESV). Their affliction brought this onโฆand Iโve experienced Read more
Abba Father, If Iโm honest, Iโm crying to You along with Job. This suffering feels Job-like. โI loathe my lifeโ (Job 9:21 ESV). And yet, as I suffer today, I remember that You gave me eternal life, life that is Read more
Well-meaning and kind friends suggested they would pray for Godโs โfavor and blessingโ so that my severe, chronic pain would disappear. So that the tribulation would end. So earthly suffering and affliction would stop. I silently cried an anguished response, Read more
On this holiest of weeks, Iโm sharing my husbandโs favorite โEaster hymn.โ First thing on Resurrection Sunday, he cranks up the volume and plays it! He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! (โChrist Arose,โ Lowry, R., 1874) Somehow, the truth that Read more
Our suffering Savior has been giving me solace and strength in my own suffering by studying the Psalms as He might have sung them. BecauseโฆHe did sing them in His earthly life. I wonder if He was comforted and strengthened Read more
As my unmanaged chronic pain escalated on top of needed caregiving tasks, with long travel to help loved ones, and grief in losing a loved oneโฆall at the same timeโฆour Lord had already been inviting me to study the Psalms Read more
When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He can hold me fast! (โHe Will Hold Me Fast,โ Habershon, A. R., 1906) I wonder if Ada wrote these lyrics into her Read more
Griefโs shock. Another loss? Affecting children, grandchildren? Emotionโs waves and storms. Exponential, thickening layers of pain. Overwhelmed. Darkness threatens to stifle joy and hope. May this prayer be His rest in the gospel if you are also grieving losses. As Read more
Holy, holy, holy God, Your Word makes it very clear that no one can possibly enter into Your presence, because since sin entered our world in Genesis 3โฆ no one will be justified in [Your] sight by the works of Read more
Iโll never forget it. As we interviewed to join a church after moving to a new state, one of the elders asked me, โWhat is your favorite book of the Bible?โ I immediately responded, โJob.โ He was shocked! Jobโs words Read more
Iโve been sharing some of my testimony on YouTube recently. Like a cancer survivor, Iโve been in a season of reflection in the last year, now that our Lord has spared my earthly life once again. Being a musician, I Read more
Lord Jesus Christ, Grief. Tears. Shocking sad. More new losses. Unchanging circumstances. Butโฆ Your songs, the Psalms, are the most powerful song lyrics. You composed them. You sang them in Your earthly life. Theyโre allโฆabout You. You’re singing to me Read more
Lord, You know my frame. When suffering is chronic in my earthly life and I wake up with pain-full, ongoing problems, You know I quickly imagine the worst when I look into the near future. Comfort me to remember Your Read more
Abba Father, You made a most beautiful promise to Your people, offering them hopeโฆsix years before Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. You knew they would need it, and You know I need to remember my hope in Christ today. Read more
Most High and Almighty God, as I pray the words of Psalm 91, Iโm abiding in Your protecting shelter today, a cooling shadow in this intense heat. You are my refuge in this storm, a fortress in this battle, and Read more
Can you believe itโs another New Year? This week, I also celebrate a big birthday, one I never thought Iโd experience with my serious and incurable illness. So, Iโve been constantly asking our Lord, โWhy am I still here on Read more
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1 ESV). Sisters in Christ, as we flip the calendar to another new year, Iโm pondering Godโs creative work as we begin a new year. And our creative work as Read more
To Him โwho loves us and has freed us from our sinsโ (Rev. 1:5 ESV), Youโve come, Lord and King Jesus! Joy to the world! The Lord is come: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Read more
This weekโs Christmas carol resonates. It sings of tragedy, tribulation, suffering upon suffering. It sings of the evil wreckage that we all experience in this fallen and broken world thatโs groaning under the weight of sin and its effects on Read more
I will never forget it. Exactly one month after my second lifesaving brain surgery, I was able to sit at the piano and quietly play this Advent hymn. Pumped up with heavy medication, muscles and nerves shrieking in pain, our Read more
Lord Jesus, We grieve. We ache. We long. We cry. Itโs a sad Christmas time for many of those reading this. The Advent and Christmas season often makes us feel more sorrowful because every song, every tradition, and every celebration Read more
This weekโs hymnwriter, a pastorโs kid, wrote this in serious illness, re-turning to the Lord after falling away for over twenty years:ย We plow the fields and scatterthe good seed on the land,but it is fed and wateredby God’s almighty hand. Read more
How Iโve desperately needed to sing daily of our Redeemerโs propitiating work on the cross as I suffer. When I’m under attack, I need to remember that He became sin in my place and completely took all the punishment for Read more
What is the โnew commandmentโ from Jesus for us? Jesus echoes 2 Kings 23:25, telling us to โturn to the LORD with all,โ a holistic, embodied, interconnectedย turningย of our affections, thoughts, and emotions. In the weary wilderness of suffering, our souls Read more
Jesus, turn my eyes to You. My suffering overwhelms, loss and grief profound. My thoughts are only of my needs. They engulf me. You promise to โsupply every needโ I have, according to our Fatherโs โriches in glory in Christ Read more
Have you ever read the works of Susannah Spurgeon? I deeply resonate with this sister in Christ because her chronic illness and pain kept her bed-bound for 34 years. But, even during that time, she could support her husband Charles Read more
Lord God, Iโve often believed the lie that, other than relief from suffering in the end, there is no reward for this awful pain. That thereโs nothing good I can do in this world, that my life canโt have good Read more
Lord, Sometimes I canโt even find the words to pray. Iโm so weakened and overwhelmed in the wounding that I can barely breathe. Thank You for the lyrics of suffering songwriters who also needed to sing their prayers. Like Fannie Read more
Good Shepherd, thank You for guiding me through this suffering journey. Psalm 23โs promises are precious to me, for You are indeed leading me in paths of righteousness, giving me needed moments of rest, restoration, and comfort in Your always-good Read more
Particularly when our bodies suffer from chronic illness or ongoing fatigue and stress, we can become prone to what Martin Lloyd-Jones describes as โspiritual depressionโ or joyless unhappiness, a temptation of Satan for a believer. My harp on yonder willow Read more
Iโve pondered this question over the many years of my earthly suffering: How does the gospel apply to our daily lives? How does the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ have personal relevance to our times of Read more
Lord Jesus, When โwhat ifโ thoughts fill my mind, when agony over escalating evil weighs heavy, when hope-less fears arise, zoom me back to Your hope-saturated truth. “What if”…tomorrow is actually the day of Your return? The appointed, already-scheduled dayโฆ Read more
Are you also suffering with chronic illnesses? With pain that interrupts your ability to sleep? Are exhaustion and depletion becoming a “numbed” depression? Blankly existing? Is an onslaught of simultaneous relational or financial suffering making you feel numb? โNumbness is Read more
Bedridden and flat. The only way to reduce severe pain and eye-popping pressure, as my brain continues to heal. Tears of grief, feeling like Iโd been given the game of Lifeโs โMove back 20 spaces,โ missing many special times with Read more
Precious Lord Jesus, Iโve read that You are โgentle and lowly in heart” (Mt. 11:29 ESV). Help me remember the gentle way You treat Your repentant, lowly, suffering ones (Is. 57:15). You came into Your created world in a lowly, humbled, Read more
I know she meant well, saying it out of love and fervent care for me as a suffering Christian. She wanted to offer a method to achieve Godโs โtotal healingโ on earth. She told me I must declare that โI Read more
Holy Spirit, Spirit of Christ, You promise to grow Your self-control fruit in me. I cling to this promise, for I need this freeing truth in all the temptations suffering can bring. In sweet communion, Lord, with thee I constantly Read more
With love for my sisters in Christ from around the globe who email me about their depressionโฆthis week, I take a tangent and share some of what Iโve learned about depression. You may not be โdiagnosed,โ but you may be Read more
As I shared last week, I recently underwent a week of lying flat in bed, staring at the ceiling, asking God to heal the pain-full problem with my brainโs cerebrospinal fluid. I couldnโt comfortably read or listen to anything. All Read more
Suddenly bedridden at the end of April. Brain surgery complications. Flat. Staring at the ceiling. Light and sound excruciatingly painful. Could be days, weeks, chronic. Causing the brain to slump. Had cerebrospinal fluid leaking been the root of my underlying Read more
Iโve recently realized that many who are reading this are like meโฆ.our suffering is ongoing, chronic, continual, likely permanent on earth, but with lots of ups and downs. No wonder our emotions follow that same pattern! We canโt be stoic Read more
I sat with Godโs Word and my prayer journal, exhausted, in pain, not sure what I should even attempt to do after an unexpectedly short and challenging night of โsleep.โ Like Job, my prayers floated between โhelpโ and โhow?โ I Read more
Last week, I talked about how God had me insert โchronically illโ into my reading of His Word. In my current suffering, every Scripture then comes to life, real and applied to my cries. No shame, no fear, but so Read more
Do you ever pause to ponder when suffering began? There was no suffering or lack of safety when our Creator spoke our world into being and called it good! When He created Adam and Eve, there was no pain, sorrow, Read more
Lord Jesus, Precious Savior, The pain is strong today. So much of our suffering is invisible to others. As we suffer, what do You gently call to us into the wounding? Are we weak and heavy-laden,cumbered with a load of Read more
Godโs people panicked! God had led them into a place without body-sustaining water to drink, โaccording to the LORDโs commandโ (Ex. 17:1 CSB). In His will, with His presence, they again literally thirsted. It all followed His manna and quail Read more
Five years ago, obeying the clear voice of our Lord to create an online ministry of gospel hope alongside my suffering sisters in Christ, all of us under the weight of a frightening pandemic, this hymn rolled into my thoughts continually. It Read more
Faithful Father, Because You are faithful, I can walk through this trial, even if You choose not to remove it on earth. Your promises hold me when my emotions and thoughts spiral. Suffering can bring such temptation to doubt Your Read more
An engulfing cavern loomed below. A fall? Perhaps fatal. My family and I had no idea Iโd need to climb steep stairs without handrails to see Godโs spectacular creation on this birthday gift’s organized tour. Not yet physically able to Read more
Lord Jesus Christ, You are my only hope as I suffer. Exalted Jesus, help me to daily celebrate Your resurrection! For You are risen and reigning now! Christ exalted is our song, Hymned by all the blood-bought throng; To his Read more
Lord Jesus, In my own agony, I can only turn to You, humbled and low before You. I feel so โwormyโ when I re-realize the depth of my sin that separated me from our Fatherโฆand the depth of our Fatherโs Read more
O the power of love divine! Who its heights and depths can tell โ Tell Jehovahโs grand design, To redeem our souls from hell? (โI am His and He is Mine,โ Robinson, W., 1890) Whatโs your redemption story? His gift Read more
In the blurred agony of severe nerve pain, I cried to our Lord. โHow can I endure a lifetime of this? You kept me alive through Your miraculous intervention of a brain surgeonโs repairs. But nerve pain is now its Read more
Iโve had many moments when Iโve felt so weak that my remaining time on earth feels like a mission impossible. In my bodyโs weakness, itโs given many extra hours for prayer and time in Godโs Word. Itโs created time to Read more
A sweet medical helper tried to encourage me, โYour story isnโt over yet. This is just a chapter.” Amazingly, this world has invented positive thinking โmantras,โ faintly shadowing Biblical truth. With each chapter of ongoing sufferingโs ebb and flow of Read more
Are you tired too? I’m weary of ongoing physical suffering and incessant problems and losses in this fallen world. It easily threatens to take over my emotions and thoughts. A deeper weariness of sinโs temptations to bring me down. Lately, Read more
Sometimes, we just want the suffering to end. We just want it to be over so we can โliveโ again. But when itโs ongoing, chronicโฆwe need Godโs helpโฆ to โdwellโโฆwithin it, with His peace. Sometimes, we try to run from Read more
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life,and I will dwell inย the house of theย Lordas long as I live (Ps. 23:6 CSB). All the days. This includes today, one of earthly suffering. The Lord Read more
Cowperโs lyrics resonate deeply with me. He knew chronic suffering well, experiencing much loss and grief, with lifelong severe depression, attempted suicides, and anxiety.ย Iโm praying that his โpraise interruptionโ with its Scriptural truth becomes a surprising light of healing Read more
What a mess. My heart breaks by what I see on social media these daysโฆpeople judge othersโ heart motives and force their personal โif-thenโ ideas. They echo themes of the book of Job, such painful destruction on top of his Read more
God has woven some underlying themes into my 35 years of suffering from chronic illness and pain, much like themes in a sonata. As I read my prayer journals, one theme has been the ongoing need to believe the gospelโฆdaily. Read more
Lord, the fruit of Your Holy Spirit includes kindness. This is also a facet of Your unchanging character that we easily forget when suffering. Temptations everywhere annoy, And sins and snares oft make me sigh; My earthly joys are from Read more
Iโve learned so much about chronic pain and stress and why singing to God helps! No wonder He compassionately tells us, over and over…. Thatโs merely one of many Scriptures. He also tells us: So, how is singing praise to Read more
How long, O Lord, shall I complain Like one that seeks his God in vain? Canst thou thy face forever hide, And I still pray and be denied? (โHow Long, O Lord,โ Watts, I., p. d.) Does this Psalm-echoing hymn Read more
Lists of uncontrollable symptoms. Adding-up ailments. Incurable. Chronic. Pain. Whack-a-mole managing. You too? Iโm so thankful my husband drives us to church to worship and praise our Lord with our church family. Sometimes, Iโm sitting in agony, but God always Read more
I recently came to our Father with the pain of my suffering sisters in Christ as we live in this fallen worldโฆcancer and chronic illness, depression and anxiety, financial and job pressures, loneliness and losses, death and grief, persecution, pains Read more
Of course it was frightening, for it seemed like just another normal evening to those shepherds. Taking turns on the night shift, watching for threatening attacks, guarding each individual sheepโs needs, and constantly wrestling with the natural elements. Exhausting, longing, Read more
Iโve been pondering the wondrous truths God reveals about His saving gift. I once asked Him, โWhat are believers in Christ saved from, exactly?โ If anything brings me to my knees in humble gratitude within this yearโs suffering Christmas, itโs Read more
We love the names of Jesus, donโt we? Christmas songs are filled with them, echoing Godโs Word. They remind us of Godโs unchanging character, on display in His incarnated person, God the Son. This week, our playlist gift is sing-praying Read more
For weeks, Handelโs Messiah has burst into my thoughts, throughout the day! Iโve had the joy of singing, playing, and conducting it multiple timesโฆany music studied carefully for performance is part of our very being! But this year, itโs way bigger than Read more
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me (Psalm 50:23 ESV). Heavenly Father, finding heartfelt words of thanksgiving during suffering and loss can sometimes be challenging. We can make lists of things for which we are thankful. It Read more
In this weekโs one-year anniversary of brain surgery, I am in awe of what our Lord and King has done. Iโm alive! Hallelujah! Beloved in Christ, itโs far grander than His kind gift of so much physical healing. Itโs way more Read more
Have you ever wondered how much more you could possibly endure? I had that moment recently. Hooked up to beeping machines in the hospital, tears welled up. I felt like such a burden to others in my weakness. Stuck, dependent, Read more
Iโm writing this three weeks before Americaโs election of new government leaders, another historical transition. No matter who wins, some people will be disappointed and frightened of what is to come. Many of my subscribing sisters in Christ live in Read more
A mighty fortress is our God,a bulwark never failing;our helper he, amid the floodof mortal ills prevailing. (โA Mighty Fortress,โ Luther, M., 1529) Mortal ills and storms of life in this fallen world, raging temptations to sin, all of us Read more
God made us emotional beings, housed in a body with a cognitive brain that thinks and an emotional brain that simultaneously โfeels.โ Beloved in Christ, God not only understands our emotions, but He created us with physical brainsโฆ that automatically Read more
My heart is in agony, and I have to share. Thousands have written me, having been taught that if we โdoโ things a certain way, God โhas toโ remove suffering and give us โfavor,โ as a reward for our works. Beloved, do you see the pride and Read more
Lord of love, Job cried his litany of losses to You with honesty, in lament.ย In grief. In depression. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul (Job 7:11 ESV). He Read more
Into my utter exhaustion one afternoon, I read Godโs promise, โAs your days, your strength shall beโ (Deut. 33:25), and this song immediately came to mind once again. Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near,The Saviorโs gracious promise hear;His faithful word Read more
Sometimes, it feels like being trapped. Like weโre victims, prisoners of war. Stuck in pressured darkness, feeling thereโs no way out of problems, imprisoned in sick bodies, continually being revisited by trauma. Itโs all within our contexts of ongoing battles Read more
O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? (โTurn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,โ Lemmel, H. H., 1922) I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of Read more
My compassionate doctor kindly encouraged me, โGive yourself grace.โ Needing more rehab, more medication, more rest? Her words were Godโs gift of grace, melting away a burden Iโd been feeling. โGive myself graceโ when my body, mind, and spirit endure Read more
I felt defeated, discouraged, guilty, lazy. Unable to โdoโ what Iโd planned. Letting others down. Now, nine months after my second chiari malformation brain surgery but still rehabilitating, Iโd forgotten that I may look โfineโ and Iโm able to โdoโ Read more
As grief overwhelmed me, I lost my patience. Anger welled up and had to be honestly released with a shout. Shrouded in loss and shocked by my unusually loud reaction, I asked God to help me see what lay beneath Read more
Has God ever slowed you way down as you read His Word? His Spirit gently nudges me into this slow-motion encouragement, many days! One day, I was overwhelmed by my bodyโs pain alongside the incessantly fear-full noise of the news, Read more
Recently, I shared about some precious friends whoโve experienced our Father’s comfort in affliction, who then shared that comfort with me and my husband. It came after their intense affliction. But how can we experience His comfort within this suffering, Read more
Are your hard days becoming hard years of a hard life? As we both look ahead, letโs find courage as we pray together, for God is redeeming our suffering.ย Godโs redeeming work of grace Father, I continually cherish Your rescuing Read more
Why do I assume that tomorrow will bring more suffering? Even if it did, why would I assume that I couldnโt possess any joy? Maybe I need to simply ask God for His Spiritโs promised fruit of joy, to release Read more
Do you ever have days when you wonder if maybe Satan is winning? Does it feel like the grip of evil in this world is just too much to handle? Does it seem like someone you care about is just Read more
As my brainโs slumping out of the skull worsened with its body-systemic symptoms last fall, our Good Shepherd Jesus Christ came so near with His love songs, ones filled with praise and adoration to Him. Although I could rarely physically Read more
Suffering is prime time for our enemy to tempt us to sin. Weโre tempted to doubt what God says about Himself in His Word. If weโre suffering, how can God be good? Weโre tempted to doubt the gospel is trueโฆare Read more
My Bible reading plan currently involves alternating between the books of Job and Revelation. This is tremendous encouragement as I deal with ongoing suffering and our enemyโs temptations. Just as with Job, when suffering is intense, weโre also dealing with Read more
Friends are lovingly encouraging me to โbe patientโ when I get my hopes up and then end up feeling discouraged and disappointed in this rehab and recovery time. Itโs a waiting time, one step forward, two steps back. Itโs one Read more
I opened my phone, and social media tore into me. Memes complaining about โthe world,โ suffering and sin, and Scriptures meant to warn unbelievers wrecked my already-aching heart. When I realized I was suddenly feeling condemned and wallowing in โselfโ Read more
Lying in a familiar tight place, head gripped in an immovable vise, restricted by an MRI tube of loud darkness, I closed my eyes and prayed as always. Our Lordโs comforting presence assured me that I was not alone. I Read more
As my brain surgery continues to heal, Iโve had moments when Iโve asked God, โWhy am I still here? How can I love and serve You if my body canโt โdoโ what it used to? How can I be fruit-bearing Read more
Some days, we desperately yearn for suffering to end. With the Psalmists, we cry, โHow long, oh Lord?โ In those moments, God reminds meโฆweโre actually longing for home. What a kind Father to give us details of the end of Read more
When Jesus saw him lying by the pool, He asked: Do you want to be healed or โmade whole?โ The man at the pool had suffered from chronic illness and disabilityโฆ for 38 yearsโฆ desperately seeking to feel betterโฆ likely Read more
My memories of last fallโs months are fading. Slipping in and out of consciousness, overcome by constant intractable pain and extra bouts of electric shocks, dealing with weakening side effects of treatmentโฆwell, itโs Godโs mercy that Iโm forgetting much of Read more
Lord, We pray for so much right now. We come to You for help, our loving Abba Father, as believers in Jesus Christ, who is our elder brother. You always hear our prayers just as You heard His, always with Read more
My heart broke when I saw her post, changing the lyrics of this hymn, saddened by what had become her angered unbelief in God’s gift of grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Suffering rattles our trust in Him, doesnโt Read more
Iโm in awe of the powerfully healing work of our loving Lord. Heโs compassionately given us many ways to cope with anxietyโs raging symptoms. For they can be particularly strong during (and after) the storms of this fallen world, with Read more
My chronic illnesses and brainstem herniation boiled into a raging storm seven months ago. Each day held so many moments of scary health crisis that I continually asked God to keep me physically safe during the hours my husband had Read more
We just celebrated the power-full victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, risen and reigning! Now, those of us who trust in Jesus for salvation can look forward with hope to our eternal life with Him! We’ll join the everlasting song! Read more
Father God, even as we rejoice in our Saviorโs resurrection, sometimes our suffering so overwhelms us that we can hardly pray or read Your Word. Yet, You know we desperately need Your Wordโs truths as we suffer. Strengthen and encourage Read more
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? (โAnd Can It Be,โ Wesley, C., 1738) Lord Jesus, we come to You in this holiest of weeks, with its emotional downs and ups. As we Read more
Precious Lord, Take my hand. I come to You weary. Help me to sing today. I need no other argument, I need no other plea, it is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me. (โMY FAITH HAS FOUND A RESTING PLACE,โ EDMUNDS, Read more
When bouts of electric shocks fired into my body, with violently convulsing pain, I couldnโt think but only endure. When they subsided, I always melted with gratitude to our Savior, who suffered with me. Can you imagine His raw and Read more
Father, The deceiver tempts us to fear that You’re punishing us when we suffer. When the hits keep coming, and we read the words of the Old Covenant, we’re easily afraid it’s our fault. We must not be doing enough Read more
Heavenly Father, You encouraged Your people to be strong, without fear or dread, before they ventured into already-known hardship. Yes, they were entering Your promised land, but not without โmany dangers, toils, and snares.โ How could they head into new Read more
As one whoโs begged God for healing over many years of progressively worsening illness, Job feels like a chronic illness friend to me. Check out chapters 2, 7, 16, 19, 29, and 30 for gruesome details. Stories like Jobโs remind Read more
For this musician who thinks and breathes in music, being unable to make music to our Lord was a heartbreaking loss. Overwhelming grief. For months, I was so sick as the resonating chambers in my head filled with pressure from Read more
Father, Itโs Your promise. Please strengthen our hearts by fixing our eyes on Jesus today. Help us cling to hope in Your always-good purposes for Your beloved in Christ, as we suffer. For it can seem like there are no Read more
Job’s friends started well. They visited to โshow him sympathy and comfort himโ (Job 2:11). They mourned with him; they wordlessly sat with him, โfor they saw that his suffering was very greatโ (Job 2:13). Maybe they didnโt know what to Read more
Father, I come today so weary. Feeling alone and discouraged. Feeling so unrighteous as I hunger and thirst for righteousness, amid my hardship right now. You compassionately understand our deep need for You and have given us so many promises Read more
The enemy is such a liar and accuser when we live with suffering. Especially when itโs chronic, ongoing throughout this life. Especially in a crisis that lasts. Satan can tempt us to think that suffering means weโre โweak Christiansโ who Read more
When I tell the story, some respond in awe and praise God. Others scratch their heads, โMaybe He is real and still does miracles.โ Iโm holding my breath in awe, wonder, and trembling worship. God has done a miracle in Read more
Happy New Year! Iโm now six weeks from Godโs miracle of a second lifesaving brain surgery and Iโve prayed about what to share with you. Iโve been unable to write a blog post for several months. Why?ย I was again Read more
The beautiful familiar story seems unique when weโre suffering. Those shepherds must have been cold. Lonely. Maybe they were tired of caregiving. Sick of beating down wolves. Weary of trying to find greener pastures and water, keeping the wandering ones Read more
How silently, how silently,the wondrous gift is given!So God imparts to human heartsthe blessings of his heaven.No ear may hear his coming,but in this world of sin,where meek souls will receive him still,the dear Christ enters in. (โO little town Read more
Lord Jesus, You came. You condescended to earthly flesh, incarnating as a human. You, the Word made flesh, the Creator and sustainer of all things, holy and majestic God the Sonโฆcame. We bow before You today, in awe of who Read more
God rest you merry, gentlemen,let nothing you dismayโฆOh tidings of comfort and joy! (โGod rest you merry, gentlemen,โ p.d.) Yes, weโve begun the Christmas season with all its โtidings of comfort and joy.โ But are you suffering this year, as Read more
See the tender Lamb, promised from eternal years. This weekโs hymn beckons us to see Jesus, the promised Savior and Messiah. It reminds us of our own redemption, through this tender Lamb. Beloved in Christ, letโs remember Godโs glorious love Read more
Beloved in Christ, I write to you before brain surgery, as my loved ones, subscribers to my weekly emails, a family of His beloveds who are also suffering ongoing trials of this earthly life. No matter what the outcomes may Read more
Father, as I approach brain surgery this week, I thank You for Your hope and comfort. It is Your gift of hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ, offered to me and my brothers and sisters who trust in Christ Read more
Abba Father, Iโm clinging to who You are today. Thank You. For You are not only the eternal, sovereign, and holy, holy, holy God of all power and might, but You are always my perfectly loving Father. Yours, O LORD, is Read more
Father, within Your glorious love story to Your people, Your eternal covenant promises are now fulfilled in Jesus Christ, through the โnew covenantโ in His blood. You gave these promises throughout the Old Testament, and Youโve fulfilled so many of Read more
My friend shared her dread of her chronic illness symptoms crashing into something she had to do the following week. I shared that I dreaded escalating symptoms at an upcoming event, knowing they likely would appear because of its inherent Read more
The composer of โAmazing Graceโ has done it again. God has done it again! By Godโs amazing grace in transforming John Newton into a new creation in Christ, He gave our brother John beautiful gifts to pen songs. This hymn, Read more
Iโm writing this weekโs โpraise interruptionโ on a day when sufferingโs earthly storms are howling on multiple fronts. Screaming at me, to the point of overwhelm. Are you having โone of those daysโ too? Perhaps, like me, we could recount Read more
What were my priorities before God graciously gave me โrebirthโ and the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)? They all were focused on myself, my wants, me in the middle, Read more
Iโve had agonizing and tear-full times with God lately. I know not. In my limited human knowledge, I donโt understand why my first brain surgery stopped โworkingโ and why I need to endure so much pain and challenge from another Read more
As a choral music educator, I often chose a beautiful piece for my childrenโs and middle school choirs to learn. Based on what is believed to be a hidden-away Jewish childโs words, written on the wall during the Holocaust, the Read more
Are you facing a crossroads kind of decision today? Me too. Is it overwhelming? Are you also asking God for His wisdom, even as we try to make educated guesses based on our limited human understanding? One of my favorite Read more
When symptoms began again, horrific โdรฉjร vuโ set in. As pain and disabling weakness collided with my regular rhythms of loving God and others, flashbacks of the 1990s held PTSD. How could this be happening again? I was physically healed Read more
The lies fill our thoughts. โI canโt do this today. I canโt keep going like this.โ โGod doesnโt hear me.” “Heโs forgotten me, abandoned me.โ Afflicted saint, to Christ draw nearโฆ (โAs thy days, so shall thy strength be,โ Fawcett, Read more
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Ps. 42:1-2 ESV). I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice,and it told thy love to me;but I long to rise in the arms of faith,and be closer drawn to thee. (โI Am Read more
It drove me deeper and deeper into hopeless agony. Although no one knew it, I was suffering from depression, comorbid with years of undiagnosed chronic illness. My body was falling apart, with organ systems dysfunctioning and continual, severe pain. My Read more
It was time for battle. The Lord had already revealed it would be a hard and scary day. Praying together, Godโs people prepared for battle by remembering who He is and asking Him for help. God encouraged them not to Read more
Elisha prayed and said, โO LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.โ So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all Read more
I need to share something weighing heavy in my heart, out of great love and concern for my fellow sufferers. When weโre burdened by trials, we must be especially careful of our songs and ask God to help us choose Read more
As a young believer, I thought an abundant life included Godโs favor in healing my sick body. Sharing a dramatic โpraise reportโ with others was a joy, seeking to glorify Him and encourage them. I remember introducing myself to our Read more
Iโve been thinking a lot about Jesus and what aspect of His character has specifically attracted so many to follow Him and maintain trust in Him, no matter what suffering entered their earthly lives. What drove Jesus all the way Read more
Have you noticed conflicting teaching and thinking? We gasp for hope as we pray for Jesus to return or rescue us from earthly suffering, but we also quietly fear escalating evil and global suffering. Our thoughts fill with odd tensions. Read more
The news commentator said it aloud, โThis is scaring me.โ You too? As lawlessness escalates around us and tribulations squeeze us personally, our loving God gives us His Word to help us endure, to โcourage-intoโ us with hope as His Read more
Am I being attacked by Satan when I suffer? The evil of suffering becomes horrifically frightening when we wonder if God is powerful over evil and Satan. Letโs battle Satanโs lies together! Because our enemy wants us to think heโs Read more
I begin to flail if I dwell in the quicksand of swirling stress as I suffer. I can hardly breathe if I get sucked down into fear of what could happen in this fallen world. If I continually replay my Read more
Are you feeling beaten down by the evil of this fallen world? Are you weary of its suffering, a result of pervasive sin? Sister in Christ, Iโve been engulfed there lately. But Jesus is risen! Things are not as they Read more
Jesus Christ, In this holiest of weeks, focusing on what Youโve done for me, I seek healing beneath the cross of Jesus.ย I cannot relax or be calm; I have no rest, for turmoil has come (Job 3:26 CSB). The Read more
Lord Jesus, We’re remembering You are our healer this week. When you walked this earth, You brought physical healing as mercy (Mt. 20:30) and with pity (Mt. 20:34). You did this to show people that You were indeed God who Read more
Suffering is scary. A road of suffering often twists with crisis after crisis and brings sleepless nights as we battle with darkness. It all can foster fears of every scenario that our brilliant minds can concoct. Itโs exhausting, isnโt it? Read more
Made perfect. Jesus, You were โmade perfect through sufferingโ (Heb. 2:10) even though You were already perfect! You were and are God, the One โfor whom and by whom all things existโ (Heb. 2:10). Are You perfecting me through my Read more
Physical suffering brings tears and fears. Up at night, we join Job in turning to God: โMy heart is heavy on account of my groaningโ (Job 23:2) โand now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have Read more
Iโve begged God for healing over many years of progressively worsening illness, so Job feels like a fellow chronic illness friend to me. He dealt with chronic pain and visible skin issues that were itchy, infected, and gross. He had Read more
Father, we sing: The Lord has promised good to me,his Word my hope secures. (โAmazing Grace,โ Newton, J., 1779) But sometimes, in the years of suffering, our hearts grieve so much that we cry to You when we sing this. Read more
We ache for good news in medical challenges. We pray for good outcomes to the hardships our kids and grandkids are experiencing. We grieve when good things disappear. We live in a fallen and fearful world in which sin and Read more
Perhaps this is one of the deepest universal questions, driving us into cognitive dissonance when suffering lingers. When layers of grief and loss take us under, we can barely breathe. We feel like Job. But when I hoped for good, Read more
How can a loving God let this happen to me? Including Job and myself, I donโt know one person whoโs experienced deep suffering and hasnโt asked this question in moments of pain and despair. As a mature believer, Job lamented Read more
Father, Weโre easily tempted to dread future suffering. Just flipping on the news will do it! We all need Your help. In Isaiah 12, You prepared Your people for upcoming suffering. In their case, You would judge their many years Read more
Lord, I want this pain to end on earth because itโs so difficult. Sometimes, it all makes me feel hopeless. You compassionately understand that feeling, giving us Jobโs words to express it: โWhere is my hope?โ (Job 17:15). Just like Read more
Lord, I come to You in my suffering today, fighting the lie that believers donโt need to experience suffering on earth. When we โwrithe in painโ daily (Job 15:20), this lie easily tempts us to discouragement, bitterness, and despair. Job Read more
Heavenly Father, Like with Job in his suffering, the enemy continues his wearying lie, โDid God actually say?โ (Genesis 3:1). Moments of doubt and fear can creep into our thoughts when weโre gripped in the lonely pain of suffering. โDoesnโt Read more
Father, As the New Year approaches, I praise You for Your promise to โmake all things new.โ This promise refers to the gloriously planned day when You will restore all things into a new heaven and earth (Is. 65:17; Rev. Read more
As we suffer this Christmas, letโs remember what is true, sister in Christ. Will you join me as I interrupt my suffering with praise to Jesus? I call it a โpraise interruption,โ turning around to praise our Lord, within our Read more
Lord, I’m constantly waiting as I suffer. Thing is…do I trust Your timing? Your people were waiting. The last words theyโd heard from You in Malachi had been 400 years before, roughly twenty generations. They doubted Your love, couldnโt see Read more
Weโve flipped the calendar and here we are, entering Advent. So, we begin to sing the old familiar hymnโฆ Hark! the herald angels sing,“Glory to the newborn King!โ (โHark! The Herald Angels Sing,โ Wesley, C., 1739) โGlory to God in the Read more
Father, Itโs a week of thanksgiving, but many of us feel so wearied by evil. What can we do but turn to You and Your Word? Davidโs words to evil enemies become our words, when we ache over pervasive evil Read more
Lord of heaven and earth, I confess that sometimes I fear the enemy is winning. I confess that I can easily think he is Your equal. Our accuser tempts me with lies, thinking that You are not all-powerful over the Read more
Lord, when we fear what might happen, help us to exalt You. Remind us who You are, stir us to reverently worship You, and keep us in rightful awe of Your unchanging character. This โfear of God” also soothes our Read more
Lord, perhaps we all need a good cry right now. Weโve collectively walked through many losses in the last two years. Perhaps many wordless prayers have become sighs rather than songs. Maybe Jobโs words ring trueโฆ Like Job, please help Read more
Oh Father, I am grieving today. Loss surrounds me. My dreams, my plans, my abilities, my desires. Those I love, things I love, experiences I love. I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me Read more
Lord, Jobโs words match my sighs, my groans, my losses. My sighing comes instead of my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water. For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me (Job 3:24-25 ESV). Iโm slogging Read more
My God, Iโm feeling so much like Job today. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet. I have no rest, but trouble comes. I need Your help and strength just for basic life tasks. How can I get Read more
God, I come to You in moments of despair and stress as I walk through this fallen worldโs deep suffering. Itโs exhausting, so Iโm battling the enemyโs insidious lies just as Jesus did. Your Word is Your offensive weapon (Eph. Read more
Father, I feel less hope today, hope-โlessโ as I suffer. You know this is normal when suffering brings constant turmoil. Throughout the ages, Your people have sung to You in hope-โlessโ times of suffering. Please help me to find hope Read more
God, I cherish Your name as my Savior (Is. 43:11; Hos. 13:4). Into my suffering today, please remind me of Your love story in my Savior, Jesus Christ. Chapter 1: Creation and Fall In the beginning of the love story, Read more
Lord God Almighty, I โhallowโ You today, acknowledging that You are the Lord and King, thrice holy and set apart, pure, sacred, and perfect. There is no sin in You, unlike all earthly parents. I pray for so many to Read more
God, sometimes my prayers are simply, โHelp me.โ You tell me You are my Helper, in the person of the Holy Spirit. What a gift of Your grace to me! I come to You now, so weak and needing Your Read more
Lord Jesus Christ, when suffering overwhelms me, I must remember how big You are. I am the Alpha and the Omegaโฆwho is and who was and who is come, the Almighty (Rev. 1:8 ESV). Jesus, You are I AM. You Read more
My patient Father, Iโm coming to You today as I ponder the beautiful Hebrew word for patientโฆ โlongsuffering.โ My suffering feels so long right now. So, please grant me Your longsuffering patience right now, into my impatience. Amid continual trouble, Read more
Father, I remember Abrahamโs anguish. Youโd told him to kill his beloved son, as a burnt offering. โWhere is the lamb, Dad?โ Abraham encouraged his son with the trust You gave him, โGod will provide for himself the lamb.โ You Read more
Loving Father, I canโt do this. Iโve overwhelmed. Burdened. I canโt take it much longer. But You understand, God. Your Word is filled with cries just like mine. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life Read more
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though Read more
As always, this weekโs โpraise interruptionโ interrupts our suffering with loads of Scripture, with Godโs Word of truth. I agonized on a recent morning when I couldnโt see a way to manage my new treatment plan, even while grateful for Read more
In the dark moments of suffering, we can easily be tempted to doubt Godโs grace. Is God gracious if Iโm dealing with so much hardship? How can this be His favor toward me?ย Letโs think about Godโs grace to us Read more
I often see the popular meme, โChoose joyโ and it can make me feel condemned when Iโm in agonizing pain, overwhelming fatigue, sad tears of loss, or just numb. If Iโm not feeling emotionally happy, am I letting God down? Read more
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. (โHoly, Holy, Holy,โ Heber, R., 1826) If youโre like me, youโve sung this hymn thousands of times, usually as opening praise in a worship Read more
The book of Lamentations is a book of agony and lament. Everything was falling apart as Godโs people suffered. In the middle of the writerโs grief and fear, he interrupts his suffering by reminding his soul of an important truth Read more
Have you heard the exasperated cry of someone suffering, โThis just isnโt fair!โ Have you lamented the injustices and evils of this world? Do you resonate with Job when he cries to God, โDoes it seem good to you to Read more
Itโs so easy for me to forget Godโs trustworthy hold on me as I suffer. Itโs so easy to forget my trustworthy Lord when I focus on the pain Iโm enduring. My troubles scream loud and I quickly fixate on Read more
โIโm so stressed out and exhausted.โ โThe continual challenges and changes overwhelm me.โ โThe many voices conflict, arguing for their own opinions. Who do I believe and trust anymore?โ โThe pictures, videos, and clanging words in this world make me Read more
Do you feel like youโre constantly waiting for God to do something? Does your life feel like one giant waiting game? Suffering requires so much waiting, doesnโt it? My latest round of suffering has brought a newly convicting awareness of Read more
Iโve noticed that the hardest suffering for many women has to do with mothering, in multiple ways. Mothering starts with the anguish of labor, yet itโs mingled with joy (John 16:21). In the sacrificial love required, exhaustion of child-care, and Read more
Do you ever feel Job-like when suffering doesnโt go away? What if they say itโs permanent and incurable? What if Godโs answers to our prayers seem to be โnoโ or โnot yet?โ Could these situations be God’s leading us to Read more
Are Jobโs words echoes of your thoughts? I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes (Job 3:26 ESV). Like Job, suffering trial after trial, we donโt understand why this is happening. How could Read more
In this holiest of weeks, we โsurvey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died.” I donโt cry often, but in my physical pain a few days ago, I wept when I re-realized how willingly Jesus submitted Himself Read more
Does God know how hard this is? Does He know how things are going to turn out? What if things get worse? Does He know my pain and the aching of my heart? Does He know my โwhat ifโ thoughts? Read more
Do you ever feel like your suffering negates Godโs kindness? Just as in the garden of Eden, is our lying enemy making you think our powerful and glorious King is more of a punishing tyrant with His children, rather than Read more
In my years of suffering, Iโve had to beg God for His logical wisdom found in His Word. Since the Genesis 3 fall, our enemy hisses crafty lies that God is not good. Satan, the embodiment of evil, wants to Read more
I must confessโฆthere are days when my symptoms scream loudest and groanings of this world feel unbearable, that I can forget how powerful our God is. These are days when, by His always-sufficient grace, His power is made perfect in Read more
The news is horrific, isnโt it? Suffering abounds. Weโre in agony for many whose daily existence is threatened. We find ourselves praying, โGod, please help me as I suffer. Please help our world and Your people.โ Who are we praying Read more
Do you find your thoughts drifting into the โwhat ifโ zone? They can keep us up at night. The loud voices of the media fuel them. We Google around, looking for possible answers, fretting. Wondering. Trying to take controlโฆagain. โWhat Read more
Is this worldโs ugly invading your thoughts and emotions lately? Is it hard to see any light right now? When darkness and ugly infiltrate our thoughts in suffering, we grasp for light and beauty. Sometimes the pain in this world Read more
In the heavy weight of ongoing suffering, itโs so easy to doubt Godโs love for us. I suppose this is why I write about His love so often. Because itโs an age-old question, deriving from our Genesis 3 fall with Read more
Godโs songs in Scripture drip with honest emotion. So we know He understands our emotional needs when we suffer; He gives us words to pray when our hearts run dry. In our pain and suffering, He even gives us moments Read more
Is your landscape starting to look foreign? With head-spinning changes, escalating evil all around, pervasive hardship, and seemingly impossible suffering? Iโve had that kind of week as I write this. Many of us have. Psalms 137 and 138 have been Read more
Are you walking through a time of โunanswered prayer?โ Does it seem like a lifetime of waiting for something? Are you experiencing discouragement and loss? I wrote this last week, not knowing that I would be suddenly walking in โthe Read more
What if this suffering means my faith isnโt strong enough? What if God doesnโt actually love me? The enemy loves to dagger these questions into our thoughts. Just as in the Genesis 3 garden, the tempter wants us to forget Read more
Are these days making you feel breathless? Like youโre wearily running a marathon? Perhaps youโre sick and literally struggling to take a breath. Perhaps you’re finding yourself holding your breath from constant pain, anxiety, or stress. We are indeed living Read more
As this New Year begins, are you begging God for rescue from a new-hard season? If youโre like me, as I pray for rescue, I also must look back, rehearsing His past rescue when my circumstances overwhelm. I first need Read more
Are you walking in a new-hard season as the New Year approaches? Is this Christmas song lyric your own context right now? In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, Read more
As we celebrate Jesusโ first coming this Christmas, weโre celebrating love. Love incarnated! The Lord of heaven and earth became human. Yes, He was born to die for us. What an undeserved and gracious gift of His love for sinners Read more
Snow burst into the gloomy, dark, cloudy day after Thanksgiving. My husband and I agreed, โThe first thing we must do today is to fill our home with Christmas lights, in a way weโve never done before.โ We gathered every Read more
What does the tender image of a baby born in Bethlehem have to do with my suffering? How does the gospel relate to my suffering? Iโve spent years seeking God with these thoughts, especially when suffering continues through Christmas Day. Read more
As Godโs people waited for Messiah after Malachiโs prophecies, they heard no new words from Godโฆfor about 400 years. They thought Godโs blessing would come after theyโd restored the temple, but it didnโt come for many generations. Had He abandoned Read more
Is this a Thanksgiving through tears for you? One of deep loss and pain? Our tears are in the tender care of the One who also wept in His loss. Beloved in Christ, our thanks-giving tears are offerings of trust Read more
Our precious Father recently introduced me to a new friend in Christ, older and refined by many surgeries and lifelong complications. We immediately and empathetically understood one another, having walked through similar challenges in our earthly lives. We laughed, cried, Read more
Every time I visit with our little grandchildren, I consider the โchildlike faithโ that Jesus describes. Itโs a dependence for our very lives, fully trusting in someone else. Little ones donโt consider whatโs coming. They simply play, learn, and growโฆin Read more
My suffering appeared hopeless. Every circumstance pointed to endless hardship, permanent challenges, a life of tribulation. It felt Job-like, impacting health, finances, family, work and home tasks, relationships. My husband and I were now walking through years of long-suffering affliction Read more
I was afraid of what might happen. My tiny human mind couldnโt figure out how the situation could possibly resolve. Like the songwriters of the Psalms, I needed to battle todayโs fears about the future. I needed to battle the Read more
Davidโs Psalm 56 song lyrics resonate with me when I battle serious illness symptoms and have fearful thoughts of โwhat if.โ David was afraid of what might happen because, practically based on his human understanding, his enemies would likely kill Read more
Are you weary today? Maybe youโre like me and chronic illness has brought fatigue and pain. Or are you weary of caring for your family in this ever-changing and despairing world? Weary of the fallen world? Tired of it all? Read more
Crisis screams. A phone call that shatters, symptoms that destroy, an emergency that swirls into chaos. If youโre like me, you grasp for control and try to hold things together as you pray, โHelp me, help meโ or just โGod,โ Read more
Do you feel broken today? Wounded? How could my broken body, broken emotions, broken life be one that sings with joy right now? In this ultra-broken world? As we walk wounded, perhaps the song is a quiet one that someone Read more
Joy? How can we possibly find any joy right now? How can we find joy when anger, pain, fear, and personal troubles seem to escalate weekly? My heart has wearied this week, yet He beckons me through this Scripture. God’s Read more
My dear husband took me to a small rocky beach on the Great Lake. We rested in Godโs gifts, feeling warm breezes, watching holiday boaters, hearing gentle waves splashing stone piles. Under the canopy of blue sky and wispy clouds, Read more
Mary was about to lose our beloved Jesus to the cross. What did she do in the midst of this sad and stressful time? She broke her precious possession, an alabaster flask of expensive perfumed ointment, pouring it over Jesusโs Read more
I wonder what they were singing. Theyโd been attacked by the crowds, stripped naked, beaten, thrown into prison, and fastened into stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to Read more
They trudged the dusty road, so sad and overwhelmed. Their beloved Jesus had died and they thought He was gone. Theyโd heard Jesus was alive and resurrected, but they hadnโt actually seen Him. All they could see was stifling darkness Read more
Are you dealing with frustrations at every turn? Battling Goliath-sized giants on many fronts? Does this old hymn sing your prayer to the Lord today? Sing them over again to me,wonderful words of life;let me more of their beauty see,wonderful Read more
Are you suffering in darkness, walking through dark days? On a recent dark day filled with pain-full moments, the Lord gently reminded me that He who created my days (Ps. 139:16) also created light and darkness, sun and moon (Gen. Read more
Majestic jagged rocks scraped the clouds. My granddaughter explained, “Nana, these rocks were here a billion million years ago!” Oh yes, they’ve endured, standing firm when heavy wind, storms, and droughts beat strong. I imagined Biblical lands where people found Read more
Do you battle broken sleep? It may be caused by intrusive symptoms, caregiving for another through the night, or walking in a season of too-much and too-hard with swirling thoughts. Itโs been a lifelong challenge for me too. When it Read more
I had to go to the giant whale of a large hospital campus. Cars zipping around everywhere, confusing signs, monstrous glistening white hallways, crowds of sick and scared people, paperwork galore, pokes and prods. I dreaded it, mostly because I Read more
Have you ever heard the expression, โSheโs too heavenly minded to be any earthly goodโ? When we think of heaven, weโre thinking of Godโs kingdom. We look forward to the day when the Lord will restore all things forever, ushering Read more
Weโve recently pondered the different Hebrew words for our word, โpraise,โ realizing that praise to God doesnโt always mean we bubble over with happy emotional feelings. But there is one word thatโs over-the-top, joy-filled, saturated with exuberant praise. The book Read more
She bowed before her Lord in desperate need. โLord, all I can see is suffering, pain, turmoil, unrest, evil. My anxiety is ramping up and my situation isnโt improving. Please help me find rest in this un-rest. Help me to praise Read more
When lifeโs suffering brings us to our knees, we need Godโs help in many ways. If youโre like me, emotions quickly cloud my thoughts. I need His help. Praising God in the midst of pain somehow doesnโt feel emotionally authentic. Read more
My husband has become a gardening hobbyist. With the help of YouTube videos, heโs created a vegetable garden to continually nurture. Now that new plants are in the ground, theyโre constantly on his mind as heโs begun a routine of Read more
In todayโs suffering, do you ache to see Godโs glory and beauty (Ps. 27:4)? Are you like Moses, praying, โPlease show me Your gloryโ (Ex. 33:18) because youโre traveling an unknown and heavy road? Are you begging to see a glimmer of Read more
This week, one of our sisters here at โSinging Christโs Hopeโ has written something beautiful for all of us to ponder. Here are words of Heather Hooks, sharing her perspective: I have a radical idea – what if we interrupt Read more
Many have asked me to share more about what the Lord did for me in the 90โs. I hesitate to share personal stories, but on this โanniversaryโ week, I will. You have a story too! Letโs all glorify God by Read more
Are you living through a time of waiting? Waiting for diagnosis? Waiting for treatment to work? Waiting for a prodigal to come home? Waiting for a job? Waiting for a loved one to be drawn to Jesus as Savior and Read more
I woke up with pain and fatigue as if Iโd never slept. The computer screamed at me with work to do and the headlines blared loud whining about worldly troubles. How quickly my discontent and dread of today shot shrapnel Read more
My knee-jerk reaction to suffering is to research, scrambling for solutions, aiming to find a way to make things feel more comfortable. I want to fix things and quickly. I want an answer. Back when my illness was the worst, Read more
When suffering seems endless and despair kicks in, thoughts of โwhyโ and โhow long, oh Lord?โ can permeate our thoughts. We fixate on circumstances, trying to understand them, and then stress multiplies even more. Our songs of praise feel out Read more
Does it seem like the powers of this world are taking over? Is fear nagging under the surface of your thoughts? We do not need to be afraid, believer. Easter actually happened, right?! Jesus is alive and reigning as King Read more
Did things go differently than you expected this year? Did life take a turn into a new season for you? Are you in the middle of one, not knowing its outcome? Does that feel unsettling? Me too, on multiple fronts. Read more
Jesus is alive! Hallelujah! What does His resurrection mean for us, as we remain on earth with its suffering? The effects of sin, evil, our enemy Satan, and resulting death can feel so strong when weโre suffering. For me, daily Read more
It is the holiest of weeks as we look to the cross. As we sigh heavy in our own suffering that overlays this week, we look to our Lord and Savior, grasping His grace in suffering. I chose this hymn Read more
Is today filled with sorrow, beloved? It is for many of us, dear readers. Our Man of Sorrows, our suffering Servant, our Savior Jesus Christ understands our suffering, sadness, and loss. This week, letโs remember Jesus who is so near Read more
In quietness and in trust shall be your strength (Is. 30:15b ESV). โBut Lord,โ she cried. โNothing in my life feels quiet or calm. My life is filled with chaos, this fallen world is filled with chaos and noise. Iโm Read more
I had a recent day when the worldโs weight bore heavy and threatened to pull me under. I work as a teacher. Iโve loved teaching others how to sing and make music with their God-given instrument. In one of my Read more
In suffering, Iโm instantly tempted to focus on myself. The pain overtakes my every thought and everything becomes so inward, fixated on my hurting. When it becomes days and years, with no end in sight, itโs easy for me to Read more
Do you ever talk to your soul? The Psalmists did this a lot, reminding themselves of truth in Godโs Word, truths about who God is and what He is doingโฆeven when we canโt see it. Why are you cast down, Read more
Itโs a week of love. Valentineโs Day celebrated it and the beginning of Lent points us to Love crucified.ย “But how could I be suffering so much if God loves me?” Sometimes our enemy forces this secret question into our Read more
My rings are precious possessions, white and yellow gold blended with diamond sparkles, representing the deep love of my dear husband. He is a treasure from God to me and the gold rings continue to endure after so many years Read more
Are you waiting for things to improve, hoping for things to become easier? Sometimes, itโs years of waiting. Sometimes, things donโt get better or easier, but worse and harder. What do we do then? What ifโฆour waiting lasts a lifetime? Read more
Suffering feels lonely, doesnโt it? So much suffering causes physical isolation, surviving away from others. How Iโm praying for those who are widowed, sick, orphaned, and isolated right now. The list is lengthening daily. Even when people are physically near, Read more
Are you enduring personal suffering right now? Are you afraid as you stare horrified at earthly happenings, wondering about potential suffering to come? Are you surrounded by effects of sin and evil on every side? It seems that we as Read more
She was in anguish. There seemed to be no end in sight. Like the apostle Paul, she begged God for the thorn to go away, for her chronic suffering to disappear. She read books that encouraged her to muster up Read more
I found myself writing in pencil as I began filling out my 2021 calendar. 2020 taught me, โDonโt use pen!โ Why? โYou do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?…You ought to say, โIf the Lord wills, Read more
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, dear sister in Christ! My birthday arrives during Epiphany, right after Christmas. As a young child, I always felt the bummer that I was on winter break from school, so I never got the Read more
In Christmas 2020, our world clings to hope for rescue in so many placesโฆvaccines, government power, cultural movements of justice, justice in the court system, human-made organizations. Honestly, my heart has been gripped this year by an overwhelming disbelief in Read more
Merry Christmas, dear friends! Some of you have written to tell me youโre singing โO Holy Nightโ daily, even though itโs a challenging song to sing! You know, the Lord delights to hear us sing even if we donโt like Read more
It was a holy night. Jesus Christ, our Savior, was born. Can you imagine the sound filling the sky as the multitude of angels arrived? What a sound must have been the glory of heaven, lyrics from worship at His Read more
Do you love the Christmas song, “Oh, Holy Night” as much as I do? Itโs not easy to sing because it has a wide range and requires rigorous vocal technique to sing well. This month, Iโm going to focus on Read more
The pandemic canceled our entire summerโs travel plans, so my husband and I decided to plant a vegetable garden for the first time. Honestly, we needed a positive home project as we grieved heavy losses of not meeting our newborn Read more
We sing this hymn at Thanksgiving, but what if the words feel inauthentic to you this Thanksgiving? Do you ever have running thoughts like these when you sing? Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home; Lord, Read more
As Thanksgiving approaches, we may not be gathering in typical ways. Our tables may not include those normally invited, we may be grieving as we miss those who used to fill the seats, we may not have enough money to Read more
If weโve all learned anything from 2020, weโve learned that our plans actually submit to the sovereign Lord who orders all things.ย The heart of man plans his way, butย theย Lordย establishes his steps (Prov. 16:9). Many are the plans in the Read more
I wondered about the author of this hymnโs lyrics (God Moves in a Mysterious Way, Cowper, W., 1773). What happened in this believerโs life? His mother died when he was six. He fell in love but wasnโt allowed to marry Read more
Did you take music lessons as a child? Did you sing in the school choir or play in the band or orchestra? Does music fill your home daily, drowning out the noise in your head? Thereโs something to that, you Read more
My sister in Christ shared her weariness. She was just โover it all.โ The fatigue of earthly life felt weighty and weary to her, mostly because it seemed unending. Even in her tiredness, she wasnโt sleeping well; insomnia compounded her Read more
David was in trouble. In Psalm 55, He cried out to the Lord, complaining honestly about his upsetting situation. He lamented, moaned, got it all out there as He prayed. He was hurt, burdened, and filled with anxiety. Can you Read more
As a choral educator, I know the power of singing rounds. All learn a simple melody, repeat it over and over, and when the round begins, groups of people sing the same song at staggered times. I remember singing this Read more
I detest being in conflict. Relational conflict keeps me up at night. I run past conversations on repeatย in my mind, ruminate on words I might say tomorrow, and kick myself with guilt for what I did or didnโt say today. Read more
As I live with chronic illness, my body forces me to listen to symptoms of unpredictable flares. Sometimes, my symptoms force me toย cease strivingย (Ps. 46:10a NASB), to rest, to be still, as I use all the therapies doctors suggest. My Read more
The day COVID-19 shut life down became my best day of 2020. But it sure didnโt feel like it in the moment. We silently gathered for a hushed emergency faculty meeting: โPrepare for an imminent, sudden shut down.โ I walked Read more
I felt anything but a healing peace in my problems. I was “wearied by the length of [my] way” (Is. 57:10 ESV) and I felt down, low, and weak. My frustration and anxiety over unwanted problems produced exhaustion. No wonder I felt Read more
Going back to school in a pandemic brings up all the feels, doesnโt it? Uncertain, weary, sad, hopeful, scared, excited, overwhelmedโฆsimultaneously. We bravely want to transition well for our kids and health of all. On top of this, we continue Read more
Weโre living in masks, hiding, covering up, protecting ourselves and others from an unseen virus. Emotions are running high. But what infects us from day one? Our inborn sin pervades everything (Rom. 5:12). No wonder our fallen world is infected Read more
Are you experiencing a new, even desperate, yearning for intimacy with God? Maybe itโs just me, but this pandemic has given me a deeper longing. Written for those experiencing discouragement, attack, and loneliness in exile, Isaiah 35 describes my longing Read more
Singing Christโs hope into suffering includes singing of heaven as He releases our grip on this world. Before the Lord graciously drew us to Himself in Christ, we had no hope and were without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, we have Read more
Iโve realized that we teachers continually gaze to future. We create broad learning outcomes for students in our care and then artistically sculpt logical and detailed plans for every month, week and day. We become creators, molders, shapers, and potters Read more
Crisis threatened once again. Frightened, she prayed, โI am so scared. Lord, show me how to pray. I need You. I need Your guidance and wisdom. I need Your rescue. Please help me. Comfort me.โ I am God, and there Read more
One minute, things are fine. The next minute something suddenly changes. A hassle, a broken, a phone call, a mess, a tragedy. Suddenly, life changes and things are not fine. But are they good? Somehow? Itโs ALL good If God Read more
Do you hear pulsating fear everywhere? Do you notice an underlying โwhat ifโฆโ in spoken words and unspoken thoughts? I had a close soul-sister friend who could notice. She was the type of friend who saw my underlying โwhat ifโ Read more
She didnโt want to get out of bed. โI am so weary. I need something greater than myself because I am too weak to deal with life today. Iโm so worried about how Iโm going to be able to manage Read more
I call it โmicro-stressโ when I chat with students. We laugh about it, but there is a quiet knowing and empathy about its compounding challenge. You knowโฆthat underlying anxiety caused by constant infusion of horrific on the news. That incessant Read more
In this world broken by sin, are you feeling particularly shattered and weak? Suffering and sin are a born-into-this-world given (Genesis 3)โฆbut these days? They seem a specially appointed, global, weighty, exponential hard. A prayer for today Oh Read more
โThere is no future hope. The doctors say so. Not for continued life on this earth, anyway.โ https://laurihogle.com/about/ โThere is no hope. The news anchors say so. There is no future hope.โ โThings will never be the same again. Everyone says Read more
The hits. Just. Keep. On. Coming. All at once. It feels Job-like. When I was sick, I often cried prayers of despair and lament. https://laurihogle.com/about/ They filled my tears, especially as I lay in hospital beds missing my little children Read more
I am not at rest today. Weary (Lam. 5:8), pain-filled (Job 30:17), wanting escape (Ps. 55:6). I am quarantined in my house, but donโt feel restfully at home. I need re-turning, returning and rest. In Western music, home is often Read more
Watching the radar, we knew it was coming. Time to inventory TP, bread, milk, canned goods. The storm bled red all over the screen. Hunker down in our basement. Exhausting, stay-up-all-night fear. Immense interruption of normal life. Storms are chaotic, Read more
I am a planner. As a teacher, I love planning backwards from goals, creating objectives and experiences for students. I love day planners, to-do lists, lesson plan templates. I look forward to events and gleefully plan details. Now, lists are Read more
Lord Jesus, our Prince of Peace, When sorrows and sea billows rollโฆ and we feel like weโre drowning, calm me, and any Christian reading these words. Settle us. Peace by the cross of Jesus, past tense! Itโs only possible in Read more
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