Lament
- Favorite Quotes, Knowing God's Will, Lament, Lessons, Spiritual Growth, Struggle and Loss, Test, Trial, Waiting
Turning What Ifs Into Even Ifs
As I’ve continued my Titus Bible study, a question was posed that stopped me in my tracks: What if we turned our “what ifs” into “even ifs”? Almost immediately, my mind went to the MercyMe song “Even If.” If I’m honest, I found myself quietly singing some of the lyrics as I sat with that question. I’ve loved that song since the first time I heard it, but I needed the reminder it offers—a call back to standing firmly on its message: “I know You’re able and I know You can save through the fire with Your mighty hand, but even if You don’t, my hope is You alone.” If…
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Beginning the Year With Open Hands
Like so many others, the beginning of a new year brings a time of assessment and renewed focus—especially in my walk with Christ. During this season, I find myself particularly sensitive to how the Holy Spirit speaks and gently reveals areas I need to consider and address. Sometimes that prompting comes through a worship song, a passage of Scripture, or a message preached. On the last Sunday of December, a guest preacher taught from Colossians 2. Paul was encouraging the church in Colossae to be unified in love and to grow in wisdom and understanding of God. He also warned them not to be deceived by the false teachings that…
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Simply Praying
Last week, on January 1, I found myself reflecting on the past year. I remembered sweet moments and hard seasons, times of questioning and wondering, and times of being settled and still. There were moments of lament and joy, anger and comfort—all woven together through the days of 2025. I imagine you experienced many of these emotions too. Several friends of mine are currently walking through extremely difficult seasons. Many of them live far away, so I can’t physically sit with them. But they are never far from my heart, and certainly never far from my prayers. I’ve committed to praying continually for them during these challenging days. My heart…
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The Silence is Broken
Imagine how you’d feel if God stopped speaking to you. Absolute silence. Even as a dedicated follower. What if that silence lasted for a very long time? Would you start to think God had simply stopped working, that He was just idle? This is how the Jewish nation may have felt. After the prophet Malachi closed the Old Testament with his prophecy, God’s direct, prophetic voice fell silent for approximately 400 years. The next time a divine message would be given was to the priest Zechariah as he served in the Temple. Despite him and his wife, Elizabeth, being advanced in years and past the age of childbearing, God declared…
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He Forgets My Sin
I recently wrote devotionals for encouraging.com. This week I am reposting, He Forgets My Sin. My best friend betrayed me and later apologized, but I could not forget what she did. Even though it’s been years, I still remember the hurt of that betrayal. It threatened to destroy our relationship. It’s understandable to carry the weight of past hurts, especially when they involve someone close. How difficult it is for us to truly forget, even when we forgive. Does God forget our sins? The answer, beautifully articulated in Jeremiah 31:34, offers incredible comfort. This prophecy speaks of a new covenant where God declares, For I will forgive their wickedness and…
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When God Shows Off
How do you pray when life feels overwhelming? Do you ask God to remove the burden—or to give you strength to endure it? Right now, I’m watching a loved one carry an incredibly heavy load. Several major life events have collided, creating a season filled with uncertainty and pain. Many are praying for this person and the family, myself included. I long for them to be free from these struggles, for healing and peace to come. My prayers often sound like, “Lord, give them strength. Give them wisdom. Give them rest.” An Episcopalian preacher once said, Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray…
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Bitter Grip: The Cost of Unforgiveness
Have you ever thought, I just cannot forgive that person? The pain they caused feels too big, too evil. Forgiving them seems impossible. Does God really expect us to forgive in such cases? Charles Swindoll said… He’s right. When we refuse to forgive, we suffer more than they do. The person who hurt you may be unaware of your feelings, but you carry the burden every day. You have a right to be angry, but you don’t have to carry that weight. Hebrews 12:14-15 warns: Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God…
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Two Responses: Our Choice
When you’re faced with a decision, what guides your response? Do you act based on emotion in the moment, or do you pause, pray, and thoughtfully consider your options? And when you sin—what’s your first reaction? Do you blame, ignore, make excuses, or repent? In 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, we read about two kings, David and his son Solomon, each with different responses to sin. After his impulsive and grievous sins of adultery and murder in 2 Samuel, David was confronted by the prophet Nathan. Instead of hiding or excusing his actions, he humbly confessed. In 2 Samuel 12:13, David said, “I have sinned against the LORD.” His repentance…
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Finding Your “Davar in the Midbar”: God’s Voice in Dry Times
Kristi McLelland’s “snapshot” from her Luke in the Land study today offered both insight and encouragement, particularly resonating with my ongoing exploration of biblical lament. For nearly a year, this has been a persistent area of study, where each apparent conclusion seems to usher in new resources and scriptural connections. McLelland’s session, titled “Davar in the Midbar” (Word in the wilderness), has become another valuable addition to my notes. Drawing from Luke 4, she highlighted Jesus’ Spirit-led journey into the wilderness for his temptation, a practice familiar to the Israelites as a time of seeking God’s voice in solitude. McLelland reminded us of pivotal “wilderness encounters” throughout Scripture: Moses at…
