Category Archives: Suffering

Evil doesn’t make sense

Posted on December 14, 2018 by

We grieve. We weep. We lament. We protest. We scream in pain and anger. We cry out, “How long must this kind of thing go on?” Continue reading →

Posted in Evil in the world, Evil One, God's power, Mad at God, Problem of evil, Suffering, Wisdom | Tagged , | Leave a comment

My first funeral (a suicide)

Posted on December 8, 2018 by

There was standing room only at the funeral parlor as I faced some rather austere men and women dressed in the old black garb common to conservative Mennonites. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Counselor, Counseling, Depression, Despair, Eternal life, feeling hopeless, Funeral, Hope?, Life of a pastor, Sadness, Suffering, Suicide, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Are you a wise and discerning person?

Posted on February 21, 2018 by

When I began ministry many years ago, a scene out of the life of Solomon greatly influenced me and became my prayer. Continue reading →

Posted in Church Leadership, Discernment, Elders, elders in the Church, Emerging Leaders, Leadership, Life of a pastor, Pastors, Qualifications for leadership, Suffering, Trials, Wisdom | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Blessed are the persecuted?


Posted on January 13, 2018 by

Here are people declared by our Lord to be “blessed” when they are insulted, persecuted and falsely maligned with all kinds of evil against them. How unusual for them to be commanded to, “Rejoice and be glad!”
Continue reading →

Posted in Blessed by God, blessing, Christian worldview, Christianity, D. A. Carson, Disciple-making, Evil in the world, False accusation, Persecuted, Sermon on the Mount, Suffering, Teaching of Jesus, Trials, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Transformed pain…

Posted on February 1, 2017 by

Let God transform your pain so you can become a transformer of pain for others. Continue reading →

Posted in Blessed by God, Encouragement, God as Potter, God's control, God's Heart, Pain, Sanctification, Suffering, Trials, Wisdom | Leave a comment

God’s heart toward a broken world

Posted on August 9, 2016 by

How does a sovereign, all-powerful God relate to a broken fallen world filled with so much evil, suffering and sadness?
Continue reading →

Posted in Evil in the world, God, God's control, God's Heart, God's Love, God's power, God's Will, Questioning God, Study of God, Suffering, Will of God, Wisdom | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Why does it feel so hard to live for God?

Posted on July 31, 2015 by

How are you doing? Feeling exhausted and weak? Helpless? Maybe hopeless?
You are in a good place for seeing … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian life, Depression, Despair, discouraged, Discouragement, feeling hopeless, Hope?, Pain, Sanctification, Spiritual growth, Spiritual transformation, Suffering, Trials | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments