chiari malformation

a person holding a bible

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face

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 love or to fall into sinful self-pity and bitterness toward Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago

Moving onward in the scary through our Helper

An engulfing cavern loomed below. A fall? Perhaps fatal. My family and I had no idea I’d need to climb steep stairs without handrails to see God’s spectacular creation on this birthday gift’s organized tour. Not yet physically able to hold myself up on stairs, only a few months into Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman sitting while showing heart sign hands

A fountain of the redeeming love of Jesus in our suffering

In the blurred agony of severe nerve pain, I cried to our Lord. “How can I endure a lifetime of this? You kept me alive through Your miraculous intervention of a brain surgeon’s repairs. But nerve pain is now its thorny after-shock, and I don’t know how I can love Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
distressed middle aged woman in black blazer holding a woman beside her

A glorious love story’s chapter

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…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
horseshoe bend photo

Soldier of Christ? Arise in and through our suffering!

In this week’s one-year anniversary of brain surgery, I am in awe of what our Lord and King has done. I’m alive! Hallelujah! Beloved in Christ, it’s far grander than His kind gift of so much physical healing. It’s way more holistic and weighty than that. I can only describe what Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
photo of woman lying in hospital bed

Sweet comfort from God, to endure more suffering

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, weary, unable, overwhelmed. In desperate need of our Helper once Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
clear glass bottle on white paper

“Being,” in Jesus Christ, as “doing,” with Jesus Christ

I felt defeated, discouraged, guilty, lazy. Unable to “do” what I’d planned. Letting others down. Now, nine months after my second chiari malformation brain surgery but still rehabilitating, I’d forgotten that I may look “fine” and I’m able to “do” at times, but other times? I just…can’t. Those times come Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
blue jeans

God leads His dear children along, all the way through

As my brain’s 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 my Bible, I heard His tender voice of comforting Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
crop harvester with fresh eggplants in box

Spirit of God, teach me the patience of unanswered prayer

Friends are lovingly encouraging me to “be patient” when I get my hopes up and then end up feeling discouraged and disappointed in this rehab and recovery time. It’s a waiting time, one step forward, two steps back. It’s one of “longsuffering,” God’s word for “patience.” Are you waiting for Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
photography of barrel wave

Peace in the storms of anxiety

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 to work. After my beautifully care-giving husband helped me get Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago

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