Suffering with hope

Don’t Lose Hope – Your Story Isn’t Finished

This post is a personal one for me. It’s a part of my life that has shaped me more than anything else, but it’s also the part I’ve been most limited to share about.  More recently, however, the Lord has been moving in our family’s life, leading us to share more about the journey we’ve… Continue reading Don’t Lose Hope – Your Story Isn’t Finished

Suffering with hope

The Three L’s of Suffering Well With Others

We’ve all suffered. We’ve all known someone else who has suffered. And we’ve all been on the giving and receiving end of unhelpful and ignorant comments as a result. Suffering is simply a natural part of the human experience in this world. God’s Word doesn’t leave us wondering, “if”, but “when” the pain of this… Continue reading The Three L’s of Suffering Well With Others

Suffering with hope

He Holds Our Tears in Loneliness

At a moment’s notice, chaos could erupt in our home. This day was no different. Although every day was difficult with my son’s illness, some stand out as ones that will forever be etched in my mind. And this was one of them.Something triggered him, as had happened countless times before, and a two-hour-long episode… Continue reading He Holds Our Tears in Loneliness

Suffering with hope

When Nothing Makes Sense, Remember These Three Things…

Newsletter Something on my mind…“Everything in my life always goes wrong! I know God can prevent it if he wants to, so it seems like he enjoys inflicting pain on me.” Tears welled up in my teenage son’s eyes as these words of discouragement and borderline despair flew out of his mouth.  I caught myself… Continue reading When Nothing Makes Sense, Remember These Three Things…

Suffering with hope

The Great Exchange: When a Million Little Deaths Lead to the Secret of True Life

As I recently shared, this past month was one of extreme physical circumstances that left me out of commission, out of family life, desperate for relief, and weary of the battle. There were moments when I was in such discomfort, I could barely think, let alone read my Bible or pray beyond begging God for… Continue reading The Great Exchange: When a Million Little Deaths Lead to the Secret of True Life

Suffering with hope

The Rush to Redeem Suffering: Acknowledging Pain for What It Is

Suffering. How can one small word hold so much complexity? It can elicit fear, dread, anxiety, bitterness, anger, and panic. It can also stir up courage, strength, growth, humility, and faith. Suffering is so painfully complex that we struggle to find answers to it, yet it demands answers nonetheless. Which is why, I believe, we… Continue reading The Rush to Redeem Suffering: Acknowledging Pain for What It Is

Suffering with hope

There is no Pit so Deep That He is Not Deeper Still

Mom! Dad! Something keeps biting me!” one of our children yelled. We ran into the family room to investigate what was happening. As soon as I realized the cause, I froze. Fleas! Nope, no way, this was too much. Everything in me wanted to run for the hills, escape the horror we were living in, and… Continue reading There is no Pit so Deep That He is Not Deeper Still

Suffering with hope

Fear Takes You Where Grace Has Not Yet Gone

I don’t have to tell you that there’s a lot to fear in this world. And we don’t have the promise that our fears won’t become reality. We’ll all be faced with some degree of unwanted sorrows, hardships, and disappointments simply because we live in a fallen world that still groans under the curse of… Continue reading Fear Takes You Where Grace Has Not Yet Gone

Suffering with hope

God’s Heart for our Healing

It’s been so many years of waiting. I've prayed, longed, and sacrificed for the desired healing of my earthly body for over two decades. And yet, I've often felt like the women in Mark 5 who bled for 12 years, suffering "a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she… Continue reading God’s Heart for our Healing

Suffering with hope

A Tested Faith Will Stand

Have you ever wondered why trials seem to come in abundance and with a vengeance in the lives of believers? Although we’d like to think that following Christ means we’ll be protected from earthly harm, it doesn’t take long to realize the fallacy of that belief. We’re then left to face the question, “Why?” If… Continue reading A Tested Faith Will Stand