Over my years of pastoral ministry, when people experience sickness, lose a job or mourn the passing of a loved one, they have often asked the question, “Why did God allow that to happen?” In those painful situations, it’s quite natural to wonder what role God might have behind the scenes. Some go so farContinue reading “God’s message to us when life seems out of control – Jeremiah 46 & 47”
Tag Archives: despair
Wrestle: Voice Your Doubt – Psalm 77, Part 2
This week I welcome guest blogger, Clint Watkins, as he shares with us how his personal experience of loss and pain led him to learn how to seize hope through lament. If you want to learn more about Clint, please visit his website. In the previous post, we learned how lament starts with weeping, inContinue reading “Wrestle: Voice Your Doubt – Psalm 77, Part 2”
Weep: Describe Your Despair – Psalm 77, Part 1
This week I welcome guest blogger, Clint Watkins, as he shares with us how his personal experience of loss and pain led him to learn how to seize hope through lament. If you want to learn more about Clint, please visit his website. Three and a half years ago my wife and I lost ourContinue reading “Weep: Describe Your Despair – Psalm 77, Part 1”
An antidote to despair – Ecclesiastes 8:16-9:10, Part 4
If we aren’t supposed to succumb to worry about the future, is there an antidote to despair? Again, the Teacher, the writer of Ecclesiastes, is ready with more wisdom for us. Look at chapter 9, verses 7-9a. Dorsey’s Translation: “7 Therefore go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a joyful heart,Continue reading “An antidote to despair – Ecclesiastes 8:16-9:10, Part 4”
How to have hope even when it seems all is lost – Acts 16, Part 4
Have you ever lost hope? You might know the feeling, either from something in real life when disaster has struck, or maybe you had one of those vivid nightmares that seem totally real, and you wake up, sweating, heart racing, so thankful it was just a dream. The loss of hope can cause us toContinue reading “How to have hope even when it seems all is lost – Acts 16, Part 4”
Why did the US death rate jump sharply in recent years? – First Sunday of Advent 2019, Part 1
If you could say in one word what you want more of in life, what would that be? What this question gets at is longing. This Advent, we are talking about longing. Advent is a season of longing. Ancient Christians created the season of Advent as a four week long preparatory time for the greatContinue reading “Why did the US death rate jump sharply in recent years? – First Sunday of Advent 2019, Part 1”
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