Word of God

low angle photography of brown wooden dock at golden house

Healing from God, in the middle of our suffering

Cowper’s lyrics resonate deeply with me. He knew chronic suffering well, experiencing much loss and grief, with lifelong severe depression, attempted suicides, and anxiety.  I’m praying that his “praise interruption” with its Scriptural truth becomes a surprising light of healing and hope from God for you today. As with Cowper Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman wearing white top

Joy in the truth of the gospel!

What a mess. My heart breaks by what I see on social media these days…people judge others’ heart motives and force their personal “if-then” ideas. They echo themes of the book of Job, such painful destruction on top of his grief, financial loss, and chronic illness. Job’s “friends” accuse him Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
three red heart decors

A crisis of faith, a bursting of love

God has woven some underlying themes into my 35 years of suffering from chronic illness and pain, much like themes in a sonata. As I read my prayer journals, one theme has been the ongoing need to believe the gospel…daily.  I see the subtle spiritual warfare and temptation of the Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
photo of person holding flower eating white animal

Jesus, kind and strong, in my suffering

Lord, the fruit of Your Holy Spirit includes kindness. This is also a facet of Your unchanging character that we easily forget when suffering.  Temptations everywhere annoy, And sins and snares oft make me sigh; My earthly joys are from me torn, And oft an absent God I mourn. (“Remembering Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
hands raised in forest

Chronic pain and stress? Singing praise to God helps!

I’ve learned so much about chronic pain and stress and why singing to God helps! No wonder He compassionately tells us, over and over…. That’s merely one of many Scriptures. He also tells us: So, how is singing praise to God when we suffer His healing BENEFIT to us? Learning about how Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
tealight candle on human palms

Are you sunk so low in the pit of depression?

How long, O Lord, shall I complain Like one that seeks his God in vain? Canst thou thy face forever hide, And I still pray and be denied? (“How Long, O Lord,” Watts, I., p. d.) Does this Psalm-echoing hymn resonate with you? You’re not alone, especially if you suffer Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
close up photo of a woman listening to music

Singing Christ’s hope when chronic pain and illnesses abound

Lists of uncontrollable symptoms. Adding-up ailments. Incurable. Chronic. Pain. Whack-a-mole managing. You too? I’m so thankful my husband drives us to church to worship and praise our Lord with our church family. Sometimes, I’m sitting in agony, but God always fills me with His strengthening love among His people.  As Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
yellow bokeh lights

The angels’ Christmas song points us to our Good Shepherd

Of course it was frightening, for it seemed like just another normal evening to those shepherds. Taking turns on the night shift, watching for threatening attacks, guarding each individual sheep’s needs, and constantly wrestling with the natural elements. Exhausting, longing, waiting on God, loss, fear.  Was life in this fallen Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
woman holding christmas gift

A suffering Christmas with God’s gift of purifying and refining

I’ve been pondering the wondrous truths God reveals about His saving gift. I once asked Him, “What are believers in Christ saved from, exactly?” If anything brings me to my knees in humble gratitude within this year’s suffering Christmas, it’s His answers throughout Scripture. Handel’s Messiah echoes the truth, the very bad Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago
warm candlelight with flickering flame

Singing to Jesus by name in a suffering Christmas

We love the names of Jesus, don’t we? Christmas songs are filled with them, echoing God’s Word. They remind us of God’s unchanging character, on display in His incarnated person, God the Son.  This week, our playlist gift is sing-praying the names of Jesus, singing to Jesus by name in Read more…

By Lauri Hogle, ago

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