Suffering
Redeemed

Sometimes God speaks to us about a thing until we get it. There have been many ways recently in which God has spoken to me

“Are you sick? Has the vigor you felt in the bright days of health failed? Are you suffering pain, weariness, or exhaustion? Are you house-bound?

I was talking to a lovely friend recently, and she told me that God has her “sitting on a shelf.” She went on to explain

I love the gentleness of mornings. The sun, making its 24-hour debut, is subtle, and its warmth pleasant. The day’s heat and humidity are trailing

“Hurry up; we’re going to be late!” My words hit my ears with conviction as I hastily tie Hannah’s soccer cleat. I had resolved some

I looked over the beautiful arrangement of roses, but instead of feeling joy, anger and disappointment rose in my heart. Seventeen years of marriage, but

Embrace the imperfect. These words came to mind as I spent time waiting on God in listening prayer yesterday. Everything in me resisted the impression

Esther and Hannah were building one of their ever-creative forts when we heard a sharp cry from the living room. Ben rushed in to find

Five minutes of quiet. That is what we heard when my parents needed a break from us talking, usually in the car or at the

Crickets. Yes, I have been quiet for a while. But I have a good reason (other than the fact that every bug and virus has

This morning I really needed the baseball fields. I’m still learning how to relate to God in suffering, but the fields have helped the process.

We have had three ER visits for our children in the last two weeks. The agony of watching one’s child experience serious health complications is

“The weaker I am, the harder I must lean on God\’s grace; the harder I lean on him, the stronger I discover him to be,

Imagine you are in a rowboat. It’s dark. The waves are crashing against the vulnerable vessel, and the wind is whipping your face. You’ve been

““You relied on the Lord,” they say. “Why doesn\’t he save you? If the Lord likes you, why doesn\’t he help you?”” (Psalm 22:8 GNT).

My spirit churned within me as I sat listening to my children practice their song for Easter Sunday. It wasn’t by coincidence they were given

Valentine’s Day excites some but disappoints many. A day intended to celebrate the love received and given to those special to us can actually leave

Who wasn’t ready to be done with 2020? There were many clever slogans and statements closing the year… “Can we uninstall 2020 and install it

During dinner, our family takes turns asking and answering various questions, some serious, some fun. One of the questions we regularly discuss is one emotion

“O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived: you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all

Anyone who has waited for a baby to come knows how very excruciating it can be. As the time draws near, consternation grows. Is today

The cars whizzed by on the freeway, but everything seemed to be going in slow motion. I gripped the steering wheel firmly, hoping my faith

When I close my eyes, I imagine a knife slicing through my abdomen. Doctors and nurses surrounded me and fear permeated my entire being. The

Turning 40 is no fun. I’ve tried to psych myself up and get excited, but the big 4-0 still feels a little daunting. It’s something

The last few days had left me feeling bereft of God’s abiding presence with me. This was not a novel feeling, as I had often

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “God’s never late.” The reason we need this saying is because often times we feel he indeed is late.

I sat in my favorite chair enjoying the beauty of the tulips in my neighbor’s yard. The sun was streaming through the window bringing warmth

Suffering touches all of us at some point in life. Some more than others and to varying degrees, but it will come. But in my