“We have run out of options. Your ankle will continue to get worse and you may eventually be unable to walk on it. In order to prolong your use of it, you must avoid all running, jumping, and stress on your leg. To the best of your ability, even avoid gaining much weight. In… Continue reading Could There be Two Kinds of Hope?
Category: Suffering with hope
Impossible Circumstances Are Where God’s Glory Shines the Brightest
Some days I feel as if I’m in the front lines of a battle where I’m outnumbered 1,000 to one. I’m fighting for truth, hope, and joy, but the fiery arrows of affliction continue to fly from every angle. I’m fighting the temptation to grumble, get angry, and stomp my feet defiantly at the daily… Continue reading Impossible Circumstances Are Where God’s Glory Shines the Brightest
Abundant Joy is Found in the Presence of Christ, Not in the Absence of Pain
“Oh Lord, for years I have prayed for answers, healing, and understanding in this suffering you have allowed. Yet they have seemed not to come. Many have prayed to you on our behalf, as we have sought wisdom from the doctors you provided, and have longed for redemption of what's been lost. By your grace,… Continue reading Abundant Joy is Found in the Presence of Christ, Not in the Absence of Pain
When God Doesn’t Seem Good
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (Nahum 1:7) Last spring, we were anxiously awaiting our upcoming vacation to Florida. Even more than in years past, I was desperate to get away and catch my breath from all the hardships and stresses that were pounding… Continue reading When God Doesn’t Seem Good
Where to Turn When the Fears are Real
This past year, my family went through a season of being uncomfortably uprooted and led in a direction of several unknowns. Through a series of events, it became clear that the Lord was asking us to make some major life changes, drastically affecting our comfort level, lifestyle, and future plans. And so, in his strength,… Continue reading Where to Turn When the Fears are Real
Suffering is a Gift of God’s Grace – Part 2
Because we live in a world that has promised us instant everything, we struggle when we feel powerless to change or remove unwanted things from our lives. Paul gives us insight into God’s purposes for allowing trials and suffering to continue in our lives, that we might reap the fruit of endurance. Endurance… Continue reading Suffering is a Gift of God’s Grace – Part 2
Suffering is a Gift of God’s Grace – Part 1
Do you feel fear or anxiety rise up when you think of suffering? Does a large part of your thought life consist of worrying about what might happen to you or someone you love, or losing some form of comfort in your life? Do you fret over the lives of your children, doing everything you… Continue reading Suffering is a Gift of God’s Grace – Part 1
In a dry and weary land
I was 17. I had my whole life ahead of me and yet, there I found myself, wanting it all to end. I sat silently in a stark white hospital room, broken, hurting, and alone. How did I end up here? Not more than a year earlier, I had been basking in the attention and… Continue reading In a dry and weary land
Restore to Me The Joy of My Salvation
Several years ago, my husband and I sat in on a meeting to discuss the options, challenges, and hurdles of our child’s special needs. As we sat surrounded by several specialists, listening to them list the problems at hand, a lump began to grow in the back of my throat in an attempt to fight back… Continue reading Restore to Me The Joy of My Salvation
Through the Lens of God’s Character
Have you ever struggled with the question, “Why is God allowing this”? I imagine that every believer is faced with this question at some point in their life. I clearly remember asking this question as I was painfully dealing with my son, who was struggling with a neurological disorder that we had yet to find answers to. Throughout the hour or more of a heart-wrenching… Continue reading Through the Lens of God’s Character