Billy Graham tells the story of admitting to his mom that he knows God is real and near, but doesn’t always feel it. Mrs. Graham responded, “When God doesn’t feel near, He’s probably the nearest—and asking you to walk in ‘super faith’ as He walks with you.” At some level that’s a truth to embrace, yet at the same time encouraging. For the last 15 days, Nicole has been struggling with debilitating high fevers. What we were hoping would be a nice break in chemo at home to spend

Through heavy tears Job’s quivering voice aches… Yahweh’s hand gives, Yahweh’s hand takes. That hand that led Job down so low Is the same hand that we’ve come to now know. It can prove difficult to trust His hand. Especially after it shatters what we planned. And though at times this hand feels terribly fierce, It’s a hand that for my sake was willingly pierced. So in times His hand delivers bitter loss. I will remember it too carried my cross. I have no choice but to embrace

Years ago, I did a funeral and read the verse, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” My youngest was sitting in the front row, and on the ride home she asked me, “Why didn’t you say the rest of the verse? ‘Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.'” That kid was on to something… It’s interesting, David doesn’t mention the “rod and staff” in green pastures but in the dark valley. The rod was used to protect th

Jeremiah’s prophet quill scratched some raw words when he wrote—I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost! The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.” While that wasn’t the end of his writing, it’s easy to relate to the feelings that drove his pen—especially when you hit a major setback. We hit one of those setbacks Friday and felt brief similar fee

2 Kings 6 tells one of the most vivid stories that can spark the imagination of any child or adult. It’s the story of the prophet Elijah surrounded by the Syrian army. In that moment, Elisha stared at a terrifying foe, no doubt eliciting heavy anxiety. That is until he asked God to open his eyes…it’s then he saw a larger, stronger heavenly army surrounding his enemy. A fun story to picture, and even more than that, an essential story to hold onto heading into suffering. On Fr