God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. — C. S. LEWIS, THE PROBLEM OF PAIN I grew up believing my father was a sandy blond golfer-turned-insurance-broker from Omaha, Nebraska. As a black-haired, olive-skinned kid from Orange County, I never connected with that narrative. Surfing was…
Forgiveness Makes a Difference
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. — Colossians 3:13 The Bible doesn’t tell us if Daniel struggled with forgiving those who inflicted pain in his life: betrayal, injustice, unfairness, slander, accusations, and even persecution. The list would have been a lengthy…
Know Your Identity
Editor’s Note: Nineteen years ago, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons’s life took a dramatic turn when they learned that their newborn son, Cade, had Down syndrome. Remembering the day they received the diagnosis, Rebekah said that she collapsed. “Something died in me the day Cade was born — a controlled plan for my life,” Rebekah said. “But…
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Week 3 — Problems Placed On Us and Problems Within Us
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. — Psalm 51:7 (King David) God sees you. He hears you. ~ Lysa Welcome to week three of the It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Online Bible Study with Lysa TerKeurst! Purple is one of my…
Pain Is a Microphone
There Will Be Blood Pain is a microphone. And the more it hurts, the louder you get. Suffering isn’t an obstacle to being used by God. It is an opportunity to be used like never before. This truth leaps off the pages of Scripture again and again and again. Joseph suffered for years as a…
Pressing through the Pain
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. — James 4:8 NKJV Does it ever feel like the heartbreak in your life is trying to break you? I understand. I really, really do. I’ve been in that place where the pain of heartbreak hits with such sudden and sharp force that it…
Prayer: Soul Vitamins
Use your trials and troubles to draw closer to Me. Whenever you start to feel distressed, turn that around by talking with Me. Let pain and problems remind you of your constant need for Me. Create a collection of brief prayers, such as: “Help me, Jesus. Fill me with Your Peace. Show me Your way.”…
What to Do While Grieving
You can’t stay here. The journey of grief is one that you must ultimately decide to complete. You cannot remain where you are right now. Time moves forward, and so must you. “You can’t stay here because God’s Word is always going forward,” says Dr. Ray Pritchard. In Philippians 3:14 Paul says that he moved…
Getting Past Our Past Pain
Getting Past Our Past Pain We hold onto the pain of past failures until they become woven into our hearts and minds. But that is not what Jesus has for us. In order to heal from the pain of our past failures and overcome the fear of future failures, we must practice our ABCs: acknowledge…
Jesus Weeps Over Our Sorrows
Jesus wept. — John 11:35 We now come to the shortest verse in all the Bible. Without question, it is the easiest to memorize. It contains only two words, three syllables. However, these two words offer incredible insight into the heart of our Lord. In the small village of Bethany, we find Jesus weeping at…
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