blue and green sky and mountain

“Fear God” in Worship When I’m Afraid

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 “fear of God” also soothes our fears as we walk into the scary things ahead. Why? Read more…

gray rock mountain

Faith as God’s gift, over fear

Facing this week’s scary possibilities, imagining very-plausible-horrible in my thoughts, also clouded by my grief of a sudden death last week, I wondered…was Jesus ever afraid? Scripture doesn’t reveal a time when He was. Why would He be? He’s God! But Jesus was also human and He faced anticipated suffering Read more…

gray and brown cave near on the ocean

In Christ, my grief ends in glory

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…

scenic photo of waterfalls during daytime

Into my grief, “Hallelujah, what a Savior”

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 (Job 7:3 ESV). Like Job, it feels like loss is Read more…

woman wearing gray long sleeved shirt and black black bottoms outfit sitting on gray wooden picnic table facing towards calm body of water at daytime

Looking to the love of Jesus as I suffer

Lord, Job’s 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). I’m slogging through today, Father. Things seem to be worsening. I can’t Read more…

baby foot

God is…compassionate and strong

My God, I’m 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 through today?  “Day by day, and with each passing moment,” Read more…

Near to God by Lauri A. Hogle

You are worthy of my praise, Lord

God, I come to You in moments of despair and stress as I walk through this fallen world’s deep suffering. It’s exhausting, so I’m battling the enemy’s insidious lies just as Jesus did. Your Word is Your offensive weapon (Eph. 6). So, help me cling to Your Word’s truths about Read more…

photo of man sitting on a cave

Find hope in hope-“less” times of suffering

Father, I feel less hope today, hope-“less” as I suffer. You know this is normal when suffering brings constant turmoil. Throughout the ages, Your people have sung to You in hope-“less” times of suffering. Please help me to find hope in Your Word, God. Please give me hope in the Read more…

road landscape nature sky

Help me to be patient, Lord

My patient Father, I’m coming to You today as I ponder the beautiful Hebrew word for patient… ”longsuffering.” My suffering feels so long right now. So, please grant me Your longsuffering patience right now, into my impatience. Amid continual trouble, please help me to be patient as Galatians 5 fruit Read more…

landscape photo of pathway between green leaf trees

I’m suffering…but take heart! But God!!

As always, this week’s “praise interruption” interrupts our suffering with loads of Scripture, with God’s Word of truth. I agonized on a recent morning when I couldn’t see a way to manage my new treatment plan, even while grateful for having one now. So graciously, the Lord again came near Read more…

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