Overcoming Trials
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God Is Love: Making Sense of Suffering
“I know God is love. I know he can only be good. But everything about this situation feels unkind,” I admitted to a friend. “All of this is true,” she responded. “God is love. He is always good, only good. And this situation feels unkind.” I was dealing with a debilitating medical issue that struck at what felt like the worst possible time. As much as I wanted to trust God to sustain and equip me, it felt like he’d pulled the rug out from under my feet. As I walked through the situation, the following words repeatedly came to mind: “Everything God permits in your life is his vessel…
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Blaming God for Suffering: How to Release Offense
A curtain of stratus clouds shrouds the sun, and morning finds us with hoary light. As I gaze out the window, I remember a similar morning years ago. It was the morning I decided I was never again blaming God for allowing suffering or difficulty in my life. I told him that I would never again take offense, blame him, or hold it against him when trouble came into my life. Blaming God for Hard Times I made the commitment at the end of a long season in which everything seemed to be going wrong. Within the span of three months, both our young pet beagles died suddenly; our financial…
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The Warrior’s Prayer & 8 Ways to Put on the Armor of God
“What would you do differently if fear weren’t a factor?” a friend asked as we talked about our lives. The question lingered in my mind for months. Every time I felt fear arise within me, I considered her question. During that time, I also discovered a prayer that changed the way I perceived fear: the Warrior’s Prayer by Dr. David Jeremiah. The Warrior’s Prayer is a powerful prayer from Ephesians 6, which describes the “Armor of God.” For years, I heard Christians talk about “putting on the armor.” I knew the words of Ephesians 6, but I wasn’t sure how to “put on the armor.” Praying the Warrior’s Prayer is…
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10 War Room Prayers for Victory in Life’s Battles
Morning greets us soundlessly this time of year. The light has begun to push back the darkness, but winter’s arms still enfold us. I sit in the corner of our dining room each morning and pray for our kids. I pray for friends and family members, the people who are within our inner circle. This dining room has become a war room over the years, and from this corner I pray war room prayers for victory in every area of life. Today, we’ll explore 10 war room prayers for life’s battles. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help guide your…
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5 Steps to Take When You Feel Angry With God
I recently went to lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen in several years. As we caught up on life, our conversation turned to God. Her face immediately grew cold as she expressed, “God and I aren’t on good terms right now.” It was clear she was angry with God. “Do you want to talk about it?” I gently asked. “Well, after everything that happened last year, I’m not sure I want to follow a God who would allow such terrible things,” she admitted. In the previous year, she’d endured some painful losses. I listened as she shared her story. I also told her about a time in my life…
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15 Bible Verses for Depression and Discouragement
The snow was knee-deep when we awoke to another storm, flurries quickly escalating to whiteout conditions. The long, dark days of winter were taking their toll, and there was no end in sight. We all face long, discouraging seasons when we need God to lift our heads. Today, we’ll look at 15 Bible verses for depression and discouragement. I encourage you to soak in these words as you ask God to renew your mind and refresh your spirit. Before we begin, it’s also important to point out that God uses many different means to heal us. In addition to reading Scripture, praying, and seeking support from loved ones, pursuing help…
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Spiritual Warfare in the Bible: Verses and Examples
We are all surrounded by a spiritual realm that usually goes unseen by human eyes, but this realm is just as real as the physical world we can see. Spiritual warfare refers to the ongoing battle between godly forces of good and satanic forces of evil in this realm. Today, we’ll explore a list of spiritual warfare Scriptures and look at examples of the spiritual warfare in the Bible. We don’t need to fear this spiritual realm. Those who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives have his authority over the spiritual forces of evil surrounding us. Let’s take a closer look at this reality together today.…
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Doubting God: 5 Ways to Work Through Your Doubts
Doubting God is part of living apart from him on a fallen earth. It’s not wrong to have doubts about our faith, but the way we react to our doubts is important. Today, we’ll discuss five ways to find truth when we doubt God. Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with God in fresh and renewing ways. Doubting God: 5 Ways to Respond “Mom, I’ve been having trouble believing God,” our six-year-old son recently admitted to me as we lay on his bed one evening. He wants to be a pastor when he grows up, and…
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How Does Satan Tempt Us? A Biblical Perspective on Temptation
True obedience is revealed when we are presented with opportunities to disobey. How does Satan tempt us? The Bible reveals three primary areas in which we are all tempted. Today, we’ll discuss these areas of temptation and explore Scripture to help us stand strong when we are tempted. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you resist the enemy’s attacks. How Does Satan Tempt Us? In Scripture, we see three common areas of temptation: physical desires, possessions, and pride. These are the three ways Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. He tempted Jesus in the wilderness using these…
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Christmas Sadness: 5 Insights for Hope and Comfort
Snow falls heavily, and I’m alone with only my thoughts and the whisper of flakes falling in the forest. As I sit beneath the hemlocks, I’m reminded of a season years ago when Christmas sadness threatened to consume me. Everyone in the world seemed to be celebrating while I felt dismal and alone. It can be challenging to know where to turn when Christmas is hard instead of celebratory. Navigating Christmas Sadness Our difficult Christmas came after a year filled with illness, disappointment, and deep grief. We’d just watched a lifelong dream fall apart, and we weren’t sure where to turn next. We were grieving, and we were having a…
