persecution

text on a white paper

A needed day of Selah in the Psalms, with Jesus

Selah: Pause and calmly think of that (AMPC) In music, selah is part of the song of our short, vaporous, earthly lives (Ps 39:4-5) The needed pause. A deep breath for the next long phrase. The conductor cuts the sound off into quiet. Release. Lift up the hand from the keys, the Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
stack of pink dumbbells in gym setting

God promises to give me endurance and strength! Abundant life!

Holy God and loving Father, this is one of Your most lavish promises to me as I suffer: This is Your promised abundant life, Your promised endurance and strength! When Jesus tells us He came so that we might have abundant life (Jn. 10:10),  I realize that Your promise to Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
hands of praying man

Jesus is praying for us as we suffer

Abba Father, what a comfort to know that Jesus is praying for me and every one of His beloved followers, as we suffer earthly trials. Along with Your permanent sealing and protection of a true believer by Your indwelling Holy Spirit, this is how we can cling to Your promised Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman hospital gown lying on bed crying

How to endure tribulation and suffering, singing the gospel to Job!

I’ll never forget it. As we interviewed to join a church after moving to a new state, one of the elders asked me, “What is your favorite book of the Bible?” I immediately responded, “Job.” He was shocked! Job’s words of lament became mine through years of undiagnosed and progressively Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
a woman opening curtains

God’s promised best when I imagine the worst

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

By Lauri Hogle, ago
grayscale photo of person holding feet and hands

God’s promised forever family of love

Abba Father,  You made a most beautiful promise to Your people, offering them hope…six years before Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. You knew they would need it, and You know I need to remember my hope in Christ today. Into this very judgment for their sin, You promised:  “I will Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
cluster of small white flowers between pages of an open book

Watching the verbs in God’s precious and very great promises

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

By Lauri Hogle, ago
shallow focus of a woman holding a bible

A new thing for suffering sisters in Christ

Can you believe it’s another New Year? This week, I also celebrate a big birthday, one I never thought I’d experience with my serious and incurable illness. So, I’ve been constantly asking our Lord, “Why am I still here on earth? What new thing are You calling me to, as I suffer?” Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
ethnic sister and brother in angel costumes touching decorative clouds

Can we hear the angels sing into our suffering Christmas?

This week’s Christmas carol resonates. It sings of tragedy, tribulation, suffering upon suffering. It sings of the evil wreckage that we all experience in this fallen and broken world that’s groaning under the weight of sin and its effects on everyone. Including believers in Christ. But it also sings of Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
a woman sits on a rock beside the lake

What do I need to think about as I suffer? Jesus. 

Jesus, turn my eyes to You. My suffering overwhelms, loss and grief profound. My thoughts are only of my needs. They engulf me. You promise to “supply every need” I have, according to our Father’s “riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19 ESV). Today, I need to think of Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

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