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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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Has God Abandoned Me? 7 Promises for Your Hurting Heart
I awaken to the sound of wind rattling the windowpanes. Rain beats against the house like an intruder attempting to break through the walls, and I pray the old windowpanes can keep it at bay. When the storms of life rage, it’s easy to look to the ominous sky and ask, “Has God abandoned me to weather this storm all alone?” Has God Abandoned Me? Perhaps you know how it feels to cry out to God in your storm and find only silence. Maybe you’ve been looking heavenward and wondering why God seems to have left you to navigate your storm without his help. I’ve faced plenty of battles, but…
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5 New Year Prayer Points for a Fresh Start
I meander slowly through a forest encased in white. Strangers’ footprints delineate the path through crusty layers that have thawed and frozen a dozen times. I’m in the woods today to regroup and focus on the months ahead. The New Year always feels like a fresh start. Today, I invite you to join me as we explore five New Year prayer points to help us begin this year with focus and hope. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with God at the start of the new year or any time. 5 New Year Prayer Points for a…
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10 Encouraging Christmas Verses About Hope
As I sit in the forest, my bones throb with the cold ache of winter. The creek flows soundlessly—waiting for freeze-up. I’ve come to the woods to connect with my Creator, and I pull out my Bible in search of Christmas verses about hope to prepare my heart for the month ahead. Christmas Verses About Hope Over the years, I’ve learned that when I fail to keep my eyes on the reason for celebrating, I get pulled into the flurry of stress and overactivity. I’m searching for verses about hope because, at the heart of the matter, Christmas is about hope. At Christmas, we celebrate the hope we find in…
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Keep Christ in Christmas: 9 Ways to Keep Jesus Central
“Who wants to go on an adventure?” I ask the kids as we drive through farm country on a frigid Saturday afternoon. As the darkness of impending winter presses tighter, we could all use the reminder that the Light of the world has come. We could use the reminder to keep Christ in Christmas when the festivities threaten to draw our attention away from him. Keep Christ in Christmas Two hours later, we bundle in mittens, heavy winter coats, stocking caps, and heavy boots. Perspiration beads on my forehead as I slide the final mitten over the little one’s fingers. Managing to pile out the door on the cusp of…
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Read These 10 Bible Verses When You Feel Like No One Cares About You
Above the tree line, the alpine grasses shiver in the wind while a pika no bigger than my fist eyes me from a rocky alcove. I’m 20 years old, and I’ve been climbing mountains all summer while running from a long list of mistakes. I know my family loves and cares about me deeply, but a quiet thought whispers, You’re all alone, and no one can help you. Perhaps you can relate to this thought. Today, I invite you to soak in the following 10 uplifting Bible verses when you feel like no one cares about you. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free…
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8 Bible Verses About Finding Rest in God
I walked in the winter forest last night. On the cusp of twilight, a million snowflakes clung to the outstretched arms of the maples. Stopping to sit among them, I pulled out my Bible in search of Bible verses about finding rest in God. With cares so heavy I hesitated to name them, I soaked in God’s words, praying for his strong arms to reach down and lift my burdens. Instead, the hushed silence washed over me. Refreshed me. And when I turned to leave the forest, I felt it. The burdens were lighter. Bible Verses About Finding Rest in God Perhaps you need God to lift your burdens too. …
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8 Bible Verses About Being Worthy Enough in God’s Eyes
Our ideas about the way God sees us radically impact our lives. Today, we’ll explore eight Bible verses about being worthy enough in God’s eyes. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook for overcoming doubt and insecurity. First, I invite you to join me at the creek with my child, and we’ll talk about how God sees us. 8 Bible Verses About Being Worthy Enough My little boy and I inch closer to the creek beneath the silver arms of the sycamores. Expectantly, we walk to the bend where the water pools in shades of ethereal emerald, and he wiggles with excitement. …
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12 Bible Verses About God’s Care for Us
Smoky wisps of fog wrap their fingers through the goldenrod as I sit by the window in prayer. I’ve been distracted lately, and my thoughts have been far from God. A familiar question runs through my mind: Is God mad at me for neglecting my relationship with him? Pulling out my Bible, I begin my search for Bible verses about God’s care for me. Bible Verses About God’s Care for His Children I find the following Scriptures and sit with them for a while. 12 Bible Verses About God’s Care 1. 1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time…
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God Loves You Even When You Don’t Feel Worthy
A few years ago, an epic parenting failure left me feeling like the worst mom in the world. I imagine you’ve had a few of your own failures—moments when it was hard to believe that God loves you in the middle of your messiest moments. I’ll share my story, and we’ll talk about God’s love. Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you experience God’s presence and love. The evening of my failure, the sun was sinking low. It was time to clean up the house and relax for a few minutes before going to bed. I’d put away…
