Proverbs 3:5-6

When I finally began seeing a good Christian counselor, Dave, who had been opposed to Christian counseling, went with me just to satisfy me because I was the one who was sick (or so he thought). But six weeks after we started counseling, he was the one on the couch!

All this happened without my arranging (continued)...

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

I battled the fear of death when I was diagnosed with cancer. I couldn't bear the thought of having to leave behind my kids, my wife, my life. Something deep within me told me that death is not natural. I fought against it as if it were a foreign enemy and, in a sense, it is. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us t (continued)...

Ecclesiastes 11:5

When his children pray to him, God does hear and he does answer. Simply because God does not answer all of our prayers in the way we would like them to be answered does not mean that there has been no answer. We must remember that, just as a parent must sometimes say "no" to a child, so must God sometimes (continued)...

Isaiah 55:9

My heart always rejoices when I slow down long enough during the hectic holiday season to be reminded that God loves me so much that He clothed Himself in frail, human flesh to accomplish a cosmic rescue mission that borders on the unbelievable. In those quiet moments, my mind often wanders back 2,000 years ago to the (continued)...

Mark 10:17-27

What a potent dose of encouragement is verse 27, where Jesus reminds us that "all things are possible with God." When we are suffering, we sometimes forget this. Our minds cloud over with doubt and uncertainty, and what really seems omnipotent to us is our affliction. Thank God, this is never true! Not even with an a (continued)...

Mark 16

The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything. Because he conquered death and rose from the dead, those of us who have placed our faith in him can look forward to the same outcome.

Just before Margie Norton died of brain cancer, she sensed the Lord was about to call her home. When it was time, she told her h (continued)...

Matthew 11:28-29

Why do we suffer? Many times the cause of our suffering remains unknown. Even after carefully searching the Scriptures, we may not discover the specific reason for our suffering. Or we may discover the source of our pain but not understand why God allows it. Our prayer is that your search for answers to the que (continued)...

Luke 5:16

The physical symptoms of my depression; the lack of energy, panic attacks, inability to concentrate and feeling hopeless, were beginning to lessen, thanks to the antidepressant medication the doctor put me on. But the faulty thinking and faulty coping skills that drove me to depression still needed to be addressed. And Go (continued)...

Luke 22:39-46

There's no right way to suffer. When I am talking with a mother whose child is dying of cancer, it does no good to say, "Don't feel sad" or "Don't be angry at God." There is no point in saying, "You shouldn't feel that way." If she feels that way, she feels that way. Feelings are not right or wrong; but it is wrong to lie abo (continued)...

John 14:1-3

There's nothing escapist about pondering heaven. Jesus told us about it not so that we could escape from our troubles but so that we could better endure them. He wants us to think about heaven, especially when anxious thoughts seize our hearts. Although we won't enjoy its full benefits until we arrive, even now we can a (continued)...

John 16:19-24

Jesus knew everything that was coming. And yet he had the audacity-or was it the authority?-to say, "No one will take away your joy" (v.22).

And now for the really good news: His promise belongs as much to you as it did to the Eleven. Why? Because he based it on a single, priceless fact: "I will see you agai (continued)...

Acts 5:41

Is it really possible to rejoice in suffering? After the apostles were flogged for preaching the Good News of Jesus, they "left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."

Probably we are not suffering for our faith as did the apostles. Our suffering is more (continued)...

Romans 5:8-11

I knew it was a trick question. No teacher gives away extra credit points on a final exam without making you earn them - especially in biology. The question was deceptively simple. "Which component is most necessary for human life; the brain, heart, circulatory system, nervous system or blood?" Now this was tricky. (continued)...

Romans 8:18-27

When terrible pain comes into our lives, we are often tempted to give in to the idea that verse 18 ("I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.") is little more than wishful thinking. Never fall for this devilish trap! Remember that the writer of this (continued)...