When God Changes Us Through the Trial: The Work He Does Inside Our Hearts
When I was growing up, I had freckles. Yes, as a fair-skinned, auburn-haired girl, my skin showed more freckles every year. My cousin always had a beautiful tan after being outside in the sun, and I envied her. The only thing I seemed to get from the outdoors was a sunburn. I had more than a few of those!
Something interesting I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten beyond those “tanning” years is that my skin has lightened again, and the freckles seem to show less and less. I’m not sure why that is, except that our skin changes over time. But our appearance isn’t the only thing that changes as the years pass.
So when we walk through suffering, we naturally ask, Why is this happening to me? As time passes, we might also ask ourselves another question: What has God been doing in me?
The Faithfulness I Couldn't See Then: Recognizing God's Hand After the Storm
When you watch dark storm clouds slowly moving across the sky toward you, they can bring a true feeling of dread. You don’t know for sure what’s going to hit you, but you know it could be dangerous, like hail, winds, or tornadoes. Then the storm arrives and, here in the midwest, we think about going to our basements when the sirens or weather radios go off. Once there, you just pray it will go by quickly, and that no one will be hurt and that there won’t be any damage.
Life can be like that. Sometimes the pain we experience can feel so overwhelming that we simply can’t see what God is doing. This isn’t a lack of faith; it’s part of being human.
The Stones We Leave Behind: Remembering What God Has Done
When the Israelites left Egypt, they wandered the wilderness for 40 years. During this time, they were given many blessings from God, such as manna and water, safety, and protection from the elements. But they also sinned against God many times, causing a whole generation to be kept from entering the Promised Land. When they crossed the Jordan River and made camp, Joshua set up these memorial stones to remember all that God had done for them, according to God’s instructions. This was so future generations who saw the stones could hear the stories of God’s faithfulness to the Israelites.
Faith for the Road Ahead: Finding God's Faithfulness Through Every Season
As our country celebrates 250 years, I am reminded of another kind of faith that carries us through every season of life.
From Grief to Hope: The Myth of "Moving On"
Why haven’t they moved on from that yet? It’s been a couple of years. I’ve heard people say that about someone who has been through a death or loss in the past. It’s time to move on. But there isn’t a timeline for grief. Sure, it may soften, but it never truly goes away, at least for most of us in the human race.
From Grief to Hope: Triggers, Memories, and Unexpected Waves
When grief comes without warning, it catches you in the midst of laughter over a fond memory. It hits you when you turn off the light at night and hear the hoot of an owl in the tree outside. It comes amidst a celebration with a group of people you know well, and yet you still feel alone.
From Grief to Hope: Remembering the Day That Changed Everything
Do you remember where you were when the planes crashed into the New York City Twin Towers in 2001? I was teaching English and Spanish in a small school when students came into the room as classes were about to start, telling me the news about the first plane hitting a tower. At first, I thought it was probably a terrible accident. Later, we found out about the hijackings and the terrible events to follow.
