love of God

a woman in a white dress stands in front of a large stone building

Dear Refuge of my weary soul, I sing a love song

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

By Lauri Hogle, ago
brown gift box

God’s rewards as we suffer? “Oh, how I love Jesus!”

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

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman in blue fur coat holding a bible

Draw me nearer, blessed Lord, in the wounding

Lord, Sometimes I can’t even find the words to pray. I’m so weakened and overwhelmed in the wounding that I can barely breathe. Thank You for the lyrics of suffering songwriters who also needed to sing their prayers. Like Fannie Crosby, a blind sister in Christ who sang into her Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
crucifix on the roadside

Suffering and constant stress in this fallen world…with Jesus

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

By Lauri Hogle, ago
adult and young sheeps

When suffering makes me feel numb

Are you also suffering with chronic illnesses? With pain that interrupts your ability to sleep? Are exhaustion and depletion becoming a “numbed” depression? Blankly existing? Is an onslaught of simultaneous relational or financial suffering making you feel numb? “Numbness is an incredibly strong emotion, an emotion so strong that it Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
person soaking on body of water

Jehovah Râphâh, our Great Physician, our Healing

Bedridden and flat. The only way to reduce severe pain and eye-popping pressure, as my brain continues to heal. Tears of grief, feeling like I’d been given the game of Life’s “Move back 20 spaces,” missing many special times with people I love. Wondering how I could start over with Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman spreading white textile

Hope that will not disappoint us, in ongoing suffering

I know she meant well, saying it out of love and fervent care for me as a suffering Christian. She wanted to offer a method to achieve God’s ‘total healing” on earth. She told me I must declare that “I am healed” because of Jesus’ death on the cross, which Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
cross with light

Depression and singing Christ’s hope

With love for my sisters in Christ from around the globe who email me about their depression…this week, I take a tangent and share some of what I’ve learned about depression. You may not be “diagnosed,” but you may be dealing with it. This week’s music therapy-inspired worship music playlist Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman wearing black sleeveless dress holding white headphone at daytime

How does singing to God affect our emotions? 

I’ve recently realized that many who are reading this are like me….our suffering is ongoing, chronic, continual, likely permanent on earth, but with lots of ups and downs. No wonder our emotions follow that same pattern! We can’t be stoic about this. It hurts, we grieve losses daily, fears creep Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman in white stands before majestic ban gioc waterfall

Emotionally and physically safe in this homesick world

Do you ever pause to ponder when suffering began? There was no suffering or lack of safety when our Creator spoke our world into being and called it good! When He created Adam and Eve, there was no pain, sorrow, shame, or suffering of any kind. They enjoyed an intimate, Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

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