Hope during suffering
I’ve had many moments when I’ve felt so weak that my remaining time on earth feels like a mission impossible. In my body’s weakness, it’s given many extra hours for prayer and time in God’s Word. It’s created time to ask our “mighty to save” LORD (Is. 63:1) to save Read more…
A sweet medical helper tried to encourage me, “Your story isn’t over yet. This is just a chapter.” Amazingly, this world has invented positive thinking “mantras,” faintly shadowing Biblical truth. With each chapter of ongoing suffering’s ebb and flow of hardships, a Christian’s story isn’t over yet! Why? Because our 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 sin’s temptations to bring me down. Lately, I’m desperate to take refuge in my union with Jesus. Read more…
Sometimes, we just want the suffering to end. We just want it to be over so we can “live” again. But when it’s ongoing, chronic…we need God’s help… to “dwell”…within it, with His peace. Sometimes, we try to run from it. We stuff it, pretend it’s not there, put on Read more…
Cowper’s lyrics resonate deeply with me. He knew chronic suffering well, experiencing much loss and grief, with lifelong severe depression, attempted suicides, and anxiety. I’m praying that his “praise interruption” with its Scriptural truth becomes a surprising light of healing and hope from God for you today. As with Cowper Read more…
What a mess. My heart breaks by what I see on social media these days…people judge others’ heart motives and force their personal “if-then” ideas. They echo themes of the book of Job, such painful destruction on top of his grief, financial loss, and chronic illness. Job’s “friends” accuse him 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 gospel…daily. I see the subtle spiritual warfare and temptation of the 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 me torn, And oft an absent God I mourn. (“Remembering Read more…
I’ve learned so much about chronic pain and stress and why singing to God helps! No wonder He compassionately tells us, over and over…. That’s merely one of many Scriptures. He also tells us: So, how is singing praise to God when we suffer His healing BENEFIT to us? Learning about how 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? (“How Long, O Lord,” Watts, I., p. d.) Does this Psalm-echoing hymn resonate with you? You’re not alone, especially if you suffer Read more…
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