Tag: suffering

Holy Grief

On By randijoIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Previous posts in this Grieving with God series:
1 – Suffering
2 – Choosing Joy
3 – Jesus Wept
4 – Walking with God through Suffering
5 – God is Strong. God is Loving

Thinking more on emotions today and how Jesus wept…

It is not accurate to say that believers shouldn’t grieve deeply. In fact, it is often God’s Spirit in us who is mourning when sorrow rolls in. He mourns with those who mourn. And many times His mourning is a beckoning – a holy invitation to go to Him. That feeling of longing that loss and sadness gives us…. is important to not ignore.

He IS the Father of all compassion and God of all comfort. There’s an entire book in His Word called Lamentations. So when Paul says, “don’t grieve as those without hope” — he is not saying do not grieve. He is saying grieve differently. Carry your grief right to the throne and let the Lord to minister you – filling you with LOVE and comfort and hope.

Continue reading “Holy Grief” →

God is strong. God is loving.

On By randijoIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Previous posts in this series:
Suffering
Choosing Joy
Jesus Wept
Walking with God through Suffering

Life on earth really can be so hard. There’s such deep heartache, the ever-demanding rat race we are bombarded with, suffering in so many forms. Questions swirl – about theology, doctrine, society, politics. There’s so much chaos, misunderstanding, disunity, division, dysfunction… things really do feel out of order. It’s easy to get weighed down, to feel overwhelmed by all that is happening.

But this morning, the Lord encouraged my heart with a simple yet deeply anchoring reminder:

“One thing God has spoken; two things have I heard: that You, O God, are strong, and that You, O Lord, are loving.” – Psalm 62:11-12a

Continue reading “God is strong. God is loving.” →

Choosing Joy

On By randijoIn Uncategorized4 Comments

Yesterday I wrote about suffering

Today – I want to write about choosing joy.

For the past three years, the Lord has given me the honor of being a front-row witness to my dear friend Cory’s life – walking beside her as she has battled cancer. And she is still in the battle. The Lord is still writing her story.

And I want to share what I have witnessed. Through every step, she has faced this trial as she has lived her life – with grace, love, faith, and a steadfast choice to rejoice.

“Suffering, in and of itself, does not bring us nearer to God” as Tim Keller wisely points out (in Walking with God through Pain & Suffering). It’s who we turn to in the pain that makes all the difference.

Continue reading “Choosing Joy” →

Suffering

On By randijoIn Uncategorized5 Comments

My summary & response from a section of Tim Keller’s Walking with God through Pain and Suffering

Christians don’t believe in karma. We recognize that suffering in this world is often unjust and disproportionate. For now, life on earth is under dark forces, and things simply aren’t fair – people living well and living godly lives suffer greatly. Christianity tells the truth about this reality. Even in America, one of the most privileged places to live, we see suffering that defies logic.

Continue reading “Suffering” →