when tragedy strikes
why suffering?
the suffering of fools
temptations, tests, and trials
why does God test man, part one
testing and the education of life
what my cat taught me about testing, and trusting
why does God test man, part two
we are the clay
judging suffering
when we suffer: a warning
help when we hurt
flip the switch
the poetry of drawing near
hearts wounded by suffering
what my thimble taught me
pride: the hidden problem with hardness
Now pride hides itself from view so that we cannot recognize it when we are in its grip. If our hearts have been long hardened by suffering, we may not even recognize what a yielded heart looks like. Thus our need for a portrait.
The proud heart says, Let my (feelings, thoughts, perspective, experiences; pick one) be true and God be found a liar.
The yielded heart says, Let God be true through every man be found a liar.
The proud heart says, I am perfect in all my ways.
The yielded heart says, The Rock! His work is perfect, and all His ways are just.
The proud heart says, I deserve ______________.
The yielded heart says, I deserve death.
The proud heart says, I do not have ____________, thus God does not love me.
The yielded heart says, God has showered me with undeserved grace, thus God does love me.
The proud heart says, Let my will be done.
The yielded heart says, Let Thy will be done.
The proud heart says, I will order my life as I please.
The yielded heart says, You are my King, O God, and I live to serve Your pleasure.
The proud heart says, I am wise and have made my heart pure.
The yielded heart says, I need You to teach, correct, and mold me.
The proud heart says, I am better than others.
The yielded heart says, Others are better than I.
None of us escapes the discipline of the Lord, for none of us has arrived. All of us need our hearts humbled from time to time, and the Lord, who searches and tries the hearts and minds of men, is far more able to judge the needs of our hearts and lives than we. Thus, let us bow our hearts before our Father God, regardless of any other thing; regardless of the circumstances in our lives.
And as praise befits the upright, let us give Him thanks and praise His name as long as we have our being. For even if every other thing were to be taken from us, even our lives, we have what cannot be taken from us: We have Jesus. With Him, let us be content. Not only content, but overflowing with joy!
the poetry of a yielded heart
comfort when we suffer
taking comfort: psalm 42
the poetry of taking comfort
comfort, comfort, o my people
comfort as a mother comforts
a rabbit trail
the joy of intimacy
the poetry of intimacy
God’s comforting presence
why don’t I feel God?
christians and suffering
back from the abyss
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