I’ve 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 no appetite and lost weight, with fevers and breathing challenges. Read more…
Father, we sing: The Lord has promised good to me,his Word my hope secures. (“Amazing Grace,” Newton, J., 1779) But sometimes, in the years of suffering, our hearts grieve so much that we cry to You when we sing this. You promised good to me…but how can this suffering be 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 resulting suffering affect everything. We need good news, don’t we? 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, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness came (Job Read more…
How can a loving God let this happen to me? Including Job and myself, I don’t know one person who’s experienced deep suffering and hasn’t asked this question in moments of pain and despair. As a mature believer, Job lamented to God, “I loathe my life…do not condemn me…I am Read more…
Lord, I want this pain to end on earth because it’s so difficult. Sometimes, it all makes me feel hopeless. You compassionately understand that feeling, giving us Job’s words to express it: “Where is my hope?” (Job 17:15). Just like when Job’s “plans and desires” were shattered, bringing despair (Job Read more…
Father, As the New Year approaches, I praise You for Your promise to “make all things new.” This promise refers to the gloriously planned day when You will restore all things into a new heaven and earth (Is. 65:17; Rev. 21)! This is my sure hope! I’ll live in a Read more…
Do you feel like you’re “missing Christmas” right now? Are you fearing you might be “missing Christmas” this year? Is someone you love no longer with us on earth and so you’re missing your loved one, dreading Christmas day? Are your emotions so numb to Christmas that you just wish Read more…
We’ve flipped the calendar and here we are, entering Advent. So, we begin to sing the old familiar hymn… Hark! the herald angels sing,“Glory to the newborn King!” (“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” Wesley, C., 1739) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Lk. Read more…
Lord, perhaps we all need a good cry right now. We’ve collectively walked through many losses in the last two years. Perhaps many wordless prayers have become sighs rather than songs. Maybe Job’s words ring true… Like Job, please help us to share every honest emotion with You in our Read more…
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