silhouette of person standing beside cross during sunset

Victory at the cross of Christ!

Are you feeling beaten down by the evil of this fallen world? Are you weary of its suffering, a result of pervasive sin? Sister in Christ, I’ve been engulfed there lately. But Jesus is risen! Things are not as they seem to us. Our Lord has graciously reminded me of Read more…

'Simply to thy cross I

Healing beneath the cross of Jesus 

Jesus Christ, In this holiest of weeks, focusing on what You’ve done for me, I seek healing beneath the cross of Jesus.  I cannot relax or be calm; I have no rest, for turmoil has come (Job 3:26 CSB). The words of Job echo mine as I suffer. But they Read more…

Sheep in a misty morning

Remembering You are our healer, as we suffer

Lord Jesus, We’re remembering You are our healer this week. When you walked this earth, You brought physical healing as mercy (Mt. 20:30) and with pity (Mt. 20:34). You did this to show people that You were indeed God who has authority over all (Mk. 2:1-10; Lk. 4:31-37; Rom. 13:1, Read more…

Christian cross with blue background

Jesus, You were made perfect by Your suffering…for me

Made perfect. Jesus, You were “made perfect through suffering” (Heb. 2:10) even though You were already perfect! You were and are God, the One “for whom and by whom all things exist” (Heb. 2:10). Are You perfecting me through my suffering right now? Maybe thinking about Your suffering for me…will Read more…

woman looking at sunset

Jesus, “I Need Thee Every Hour” of chronic illness

Physical suffering brings tears and fears. Up at night, we join Job in turning to God: “My heart is heavy on account of my groaning” (Job 23:2) “and now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me. The night racks my bones, and Read more…

people summer sun sign

Jesus, Your name is sweet, as I suffer

I’ve begged God for healing over many years of progressively worsening illness, so Job feels like a fellow chronic illness friend to me. He dealt with chronic pain and visible skin issues that were itchy, infected, and gross. He had no appetite and lost weight, with fevers and breathing challenges. Read more…

letters surrounded with white flowers on a white surface

How can this suffering be good?

Father, we sing: The Lord has promised good to me,his Word my hope secures. (“Amazing Grace,” Newton, J., 1779) But sometimes, in the years of suffering, our hearts grieve so much that we cry to You when we sing this. You promised good to me…but how can this suffering be Read more…

beads cross prayer rosary

Good news in the midst of my suffering

We ache for good news in medical challenges. We pray for good outcomes to the hardships our kids and grandkids are experiencing. We grieve when good things disappear. We live in a fallen and fearful world in which sin and resulting suffering affect everything.  We need good news, don’t we? Read more…

close up photo of tied blue box

How can God be good if this is happening to me?

Perhaps this is one of the deepest universal questions, driving us into cognitive dissonance when suffering lingers. When layers of grief and loss take us under, we can barely breathe. We feel like Job. But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness came (Job Read more…

silhouette of person raising hands

Nothing at all can separate me from God’s love

How can a loving God let this happen to me? Including Job and myself, I don’t know one person who’s experienced deep suffering and hasn’t asked this question in moments of pain and despair. As a mature believer, Job lamented to God, “I loathe my life…do not condemn me…I am Read more…

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