Overcoming Trials
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5 Life-Changing Prayers for Hope in Difficult Times
Thin bands of ivory lace the spines of the spruce’s outstretched boughs. As I admire them, I wrestle with the difficult circumstances surrounding me. Closing my eyes, I ask God to guide me in praying prayers of hope in difficult times. If you’re struggling through challenging circumstances today, these prayers are also for you. God wants to carry us through our darkest days and fill us with hope when we feel defeated. Prayers for Hope in Difficult Times Let’s look at five powerful prayers for hope in difficult times. 5 Powerful Prayers for Hope in Difficult Times 1. Father, thank you for holding me close in every storm. We all…
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When You Feel Like Giving Up: 4 Things to Remember
Do you feel like giving up in some area of your life today? Before you quit, I encourage you to read these words about what to do when you feel like giving up . . . When You Feel Like Giving Up The cumulous clouds are stacked in a thick layer on the western horizon. I gaze at them from the room where I’m supposed to be writing inspiring words about life and God, but I’m too worn down to find a single thoughtful thing to say. I’ve been seriously pursuing writing for years now. This pursuit was exciting when I first stepped out in faith and let my words…
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8 Scriptures on Purpose and Vision for Challenging Seasons
I wake up grumpy after a particularly difficult week of teaching my kindergartner while the one-year-old howls from the high chair. There’s no way around it: I’m struggling with life. I didn’t sign up for this. Pulling out my Bible, I begin digging for Scriptures on purpose and vision. Maybe you need these words today, too. Maybe the job that once felt like your calling now feels like drudgery, or maybe you’ve been trying to find God’s purpose for your life and falling short. Wherever this day finds you, I invite you to join our family in a challenging season as we explore what God’s Word says about purpose and…
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6 Powerful Bible Verses About Hope in Suffering
Pale winter sunlight slips through the curtain, and splashes of cobalt rupture heaven’s veil. Winter feels long in these parts. Hard circumstances are unfolding in the world around us, and I open crinkled pages in search of a few Bible verses about hope in suffering. Our family isn’t suffering hard this winter, but we know what it is to suffer. Perhaps you know a thing or two about suffering as well. No two kinds of suffering are exactly the same. I can’t pretend to know what yours looks like on this day. It might be the sting of a recent disappointment or a heavy cloud of grief. Regardless of its…
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Please Help Me, God! I Need You!
Dawn breaks softly, and I stare down another day with its never-ending tasks. “Please help me, God! I’m drowning over here,” I whisper as I prepare to descend the stairs and begin the day. We’re living in pandemic times, which means I’ll be juggling again today. I’ll teach my kids, cook dinner, keep the little one from drawing on the walls (maybe), fold laundry, try to exercise, shower (probably not), lock myself in the laundry room with something chocolate, and complete at least 200 small but cumulative tasks. It feels like a lot. I’ve been crying randomly and feeling ridiculous about it. These are the days when my life leaves…
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7 Comforting Bible Verses for Miscarriage
If you are reading these words, you are most likely walking through one of life’s darkest valleys. My heart aches as I write these words to you today, precious friend. You might be navigating a miscarriage yourself, or you might be supporting a loved one who is coping with this loss. Today, we’ll turn to God’s Word for seven comforting Bible verses for miscarriage. First, I invite you into my own journey through this heartbreaking loss. From Chapter One of my book, Lean Into Grace, here is the story of one of my darkest days. After I share my story, we will look at these Bible verses for miscarriage. 7…
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When God Disappoints You, Find Your Hope Here…
Here in the glow of hope rising upon a new season, we look to the future and give our dreams permission to set sail. But let’s be honest, new beginnings are also invitations to gaze behind us. Every new season is an opportunity to pause and look square in the face of a year’s worth of disappointments in life. Where do you turn when God disappoints you? What do you do when your plans fall to pieces? Where do you turn when the bottom falls out? When God Disappoints You Some of us are disappointed in our friendships. We’re considering giving up on the whole idea of community and accountability.…
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6 Healing Bible Verses for Grief and Loss
I light a white candle, and it casts long shadows on the wall. As the flame flickers, I open my Bible in search of comforting Bible verses for grief and loss. The heavy cloud of loss has settled like a cloak over my soul, and I wonder if it just might suffocate me. Bible Verses for Grief and Loss How do you find comfort in loss when sadness is your constant companion? Let’s soak in six Bible verses for grief today. 1. Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be…
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Jesus’ Words for Your Troubled Times and Mountaintop Moments (with Deb Wolf)
The pines dance silvery-white in the morning sunlight, and if I listen closely enough, I swear I hear them singing in unison. Winter is the quiet season in this part of the world. It’s also the time of year when my soul starts itching for Jesus’ words to reach down from the fiery firmament and speak into my weary heart. Not long ago, God sent more than just a few of Jesus’ words to speak into my life. I was in a season of faithful Bible-reading, but I felt spiritually dry. By God’s grace, he led me to Deb Wolf’s new devotional journal for women. Deb’s 52-Week Devotional Journal for…
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4 Unexpected Ways to Encounter God in Hard Times
I’ve been thinking about how to encounter God in the ordinary moments of my days for a few years now. Looking back over these years, I smile as I consider the reality that quite often, God did the most soul-shaping work in my life in very unexpected places. I consider these thoughts as I put myself in the shoes of a young man who has tried so hard to do the right things in his life. He is engaged to a special girl, and he’s eager to spend his life with her. They are preparing for a long life together when, suddenly, the unexpected unfolds in front of them. She…
