close up of hands

You are my strength, my God who is strong

Loving Father, I can’t do this. I’ve overwhelmed. Burdened. I can’t 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 itself (2 Cor. 1:8 ESV, emphasis added). My soul melts Read more…

green and black hummingbird

Lord, You are my safe refuge

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 the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah (Ps. 46:1-3 ESV). Read more…

photo of red boxes

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

In the dark moments of suffering, we can easily be tempted to doubt God’s grace. Is God gracious if I’m dealing with so much hardship? How can this be His favor toward me?  Let’s think about God’s grace to us as we suffer. Let’s battle the accuser’s lies with truth Read more…

stacked blue colored gift boxes

Take joy! It’s God’s gift!

I often see the popular meme, “Choose joy” and it can make me feel condemned when I’m in agonizing pain, overwhelming fatigue, sad tears of loss, or just numb. If I’m not feeling emotionally happy, am I letting God down? Am I walking in sin? Am I making a “bad Read more…

woman holding her high hills

You are holy, holy, holy, Lord

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. (“Holy, Holy, Holy,” Heber, R., 1826) If you’re like me, you’ve sung this hymn thousands of times, usually as opening praise in a worship service. The choir processes down the aisle, with all the Read more…

dawn love people woman

Singing the gospel when I feel like things aren’t fair

Have you heard the exasperated cry of someone suffering, “This just isn’t fair!” Have you lamented the injustices and evils of this world? Do you resonate with Job when he cries to God, “Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor Read more…

water drop

God’s mercy, in the messy middle

Do you ever feel Job-like when suffering doesn’t go away? What if they say it’s permanent and incurable? What if God’s answers to our prayers seem to be “no” or “not yet?” Could these situations be God’s leading us to His gentle mercy and compassion for us, as we walk Read more…

photo of cross in an ocean during dawn

Singing “Hallelujah, What a Savior!” Into Suffering

In this holiest of weeks, we “survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died.” I don’t cry often, but in my physical pain a few days ago, I wept when I re-realized how willingly Jesus submitted Himself to immense pain, torturous suffering, and surpassing agonies of complete Read more…

selective focus photography of hand

God’s Kindness to Us When We Suffer

Do you ever feel like your suffering negates God’s 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 our kind Father? Are you struggling to reconcile your suffering Read more…

body of water between green leaf trees

God is So Good

In my years of suffering, I’ve 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 make us doubt God’s goodness when we suffer. Let’s battle Read more…

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