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8 Bible Verses for Brokenness, Loss, and Suffering
The first storm of fall comes with gusty gales and breaks loose the brittle branches and untethered leaves. I have a deep sense of my own brokenness as the leaves scatter across the yard, and a question stirs in my heart: If God uses brokenness for good, how do we turn to God and find beauty in the brokenness? Turning to God’s Word, I begin listing Bible verses for brokenness in my journal. 8 Bible Verses for Brokenness These are the words I write. I encourage you to meditate on these words. Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook that will…
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8 Calming Prayers for Anxiety, Worry, and Fear
The hollow growl of a thunderstorm awakens me well past midnight. I turn to look out the open window and watch the skyline flicker white. Four sleepless hours later, I lie on my back and begin uttering calming prayers with the hopes of quieting the noise inside my head. Perhaps you need God to quiet your heart today, too. I’ll share eight calming prayers for peace and rest today. Then, we’ll talk about how to take practical steps to shift into the peace we desire. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you find peace in God’s presence. Calming Prayers…
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Your Pain Has a Purpose, and This Is Part of It . . .
A wide arc of geese honks overhead like a black thread woven through the grey. I watch them from the deck and remember a similar evening several years ago. I sat on this same deck and let these words wash over me: “Your pain has a purpose. Don’t rush through this valley of suffering.” I was at the end of a long season of suffering, and most of the time, I couldn’t see the purpose of the pain. It seemed entirely unnecessary. Maybe you can relate. You want to know your pain has a purpose. Meanwhile, for the most part, it seems unnecessary. Today, we’ll talk about God’s purpose for…
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17 Bible Verses for a Brokenhearted Woman
Recently, I met with a friend whose heart was broken. I did my best to encourage her, and after we parted ways, she asked me to help her find some Bible verses for a brokenhearted woman. Today, I’m sharing the verses I sent her. If you are hurting today, I invite you to soak in these words today, too. You are not alone. God hasn’t missed a moment of your pain, and he wants to comfort you. 17 Bible Verses for a Brokenhearted Woman Let’s look at 17 Bible verses for a brokenhearted woman. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to…
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5 Hope-Filled Prayers for Grieving Families
A few months ago, a family in our community endured a heart-wrenching loss. Every time I read updates about their painful journey, I felt like my heart was pierced, and tears flooded my eyes. At the culmination of their awful journey, I visited the Facebook page where they had been posting updates. As I read through the kind and encouraging words written by those who were supporting them, the pain of entering into their story was almost more than I could bear. I was about to close the Facebook page and move on to something different—mostly to assuage the torrent of emotions I was feeling—when a quiet voice whispered, “Stay.”…
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Trials of Faith: 3 Promises for Tough Times
We all face trials of faith. When these times come, we can respond in a variety of ways. Some people blame God for trials, take offense, and turn away from him. Others try to fix the broken circumstances as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, some of us numb ourselves or escape into work. Today, we’ll talk about how to grow through trials of faith instead of being thrown off course by them. Trials of Faith Last year at this time, the valley behind our house flooded. After three days of rain, the ice encasing the creek finally gave way, and the whole valley was swallowed in the icy torrent. Standing at…
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15 Bible Verses for Wisdom and Guidance
Are you seeking God’s guidance as you step into an uncertain situation? Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses for wisdom and guidance. I’ll also share a testimony of applying this truth to an everyday interruption. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you walk in wisdom. Bible Verses for Wisdom and Guidance Let’s see what God’s Word says about seeking wisdom and guidance from God. 15 Bible Verses for Wisdom and Guidance 1. Proverbs 1:7 (ESV) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. “The fear of the Lord” refers to reverence toward God. When…
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Combating Anxiety with the Power of Intentional Moments
I’m thrilled to share the wise words of my friend Nichole Suvar with you today! Nichole and I met in the world of online writers, and every time I read her words, they touch my heart deeply. Today, I’m honored to share a post from Nichole about combating anxiety with the power of small, intentional moments. Nichole recently released a new book called Numbering Our Days, and this book is helping me slow down, consider my thoughts, and make the most of my moments in light of eternity. It’s exactly what I needed in this season. This wonderful book contains 49 short devotions challenging us to overcome anxiety and embrace intention…
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How to Overcome Storms of Life: 10 Insights
Not long ago, we awakened to a world encased in a silver sheen of ice. Crystal droplets, frozen in time, hung from the railing of the deck like daggers waiting to fall. The wind howled, and frozen shards flew from the jostled branches of the poplar tree. The scene prompted me to think about how to overcome storms of life. How to Overcome Storms of Life The storm raged all day. When I came home from getting groceries in the evening, our daughter, Bekah, was outside attempting to feed our three pet beagles. Our beagles are hunting dogs, and they are happiest living in a well-insulated kennel in the backyard;…
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8 Hope-Filled Bible Verses About the Storms of Life
We all face storms in life. If you feel like your ship is about to sink, let’s dig into God’s Word together as we uncover eight hope-filled Bible verses about the storms of life. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional to help you weather life’s most difficult storms. Bible Verses About the Storms of Life Twenty years ago, I boarded a plane in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and flew to Anchorage, Alaska. I spent the next three months working in a deli outside Denali National Park and traveling across the state on the weekends. One weekend, I took a ferry through the fjords near…
