When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He can hold me fast! (“He Will Hold Me Fast,” Habershon, A. R., 1906) I wonder if Ada wrote these lyrics into her deep suffering, so difficult that she feared she might leave Read more
I’ve been sharing some of my testimony on YouTube recently. Like a cancer survivor, I’ve been in a season of reflection in the last year, now that our Lord has spared my earthly life once again. Being a musician, I look back and liken it more to a sonata than Read more
Lord, You know my frame. When suffering is chronic in my earthly life and I wake up with pain-full, ongoing problems, You know I quickly imagine the worst when I look into the near future. Comfort me to remember Your promised best. Change my thoughts when I only imagine the Read more
Most High and Almighty God, as I pray the words of Psalm 91, I’m abiding in Your protecting shelter today, a cooling shadow in this intense heat. You are my refuge in this storm, a fortress in this battle, and I trust You today. Why? Because You are in supreme Read more
This week’s hymnwriter, a pastor’s kid, wrote this in serious illness, re-turning to the Lord after falling away for over twenty years: We plow the fields and scatterthe good seed on the land,but it is fed and wateredby God’s almighty hand. (“We Plow the Fields and Scatter,” Claudius, M., 1782) Serious Read more
How I’ve desperately needed to sing daily of our Redeemer’s propitiating work on the cross as I suffer. When I’m under attack, I need to remember that He became sin in my place and completely took all the punishment for sin that I deserve. Jesus paid it all, All to Read more
What is the “new commandment” from Jesus for us? Jesus echoes 2 Kings 23:25, telling us to “turn to the LORD with all,” a holistic, embodied, interconnected turning of our affections, thoughts, and emotions. In the weary wilderness of suffering, our souls long, our emotions thirst, our bodies faint, and our minds Read more
Lord God, I’ve often believed the lie that, other than relief from suffering in the end, there is no reward for this awful pain. That there’s nothing good I can do in this world, that my life can’t have good purpose if I’m suffering. I’ve often felt like there can’t Read more
Good Shepherd, thank You for guiding me through this suffering journey. Psalm 23’s promises are precious to me, for You are indeed leading me in paths of righteousness, giving me needed moments of rest, restoration, and comfort in Your always-good and compassionate presence. You’re leading me through the darkest places Read more
I’ve pondered this question over the many years of my earthly suffering: How does the gospel apply to our daily lives? How does the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ have personal relevance to our times of suffering and constant stress as we live in this fallen Read more
Protected by Security by CleanTalk