I studied the book of Job last year with some people from church. Wow. What stunned me more than Job’s great suffering (which I already knew about) and his insensitive friends (I knew about them too) was his sheer nerve at speaking honestly about his pain. Job says, “I cannot eat for sighing; my groans …
My 7-year-old asked me the other day, “If God controls everything, does that mean he controls us too?” I gave him a high five for asking such a perceptive question — go, little philosopher! The intersection of God’s sovereignty and people’s free will is a mystery. From my reading, it seems that both are equally …
It’s a family tradition to attend the annual Lego exhibition — well, my husband and kids go; I usually stay home because a trip to the city puts enormous pressure on my immune system. On the day of the 2015 Lego show I was in the throes of post-diagnosis depression. I found it soul-destroying to …
A while back, I learnt all about grief. I understood that grief is an ongoing cycle rather than a straight line with a neatly tied up end point. Armed with that knowledge, I felt empowered. It lessened the guilt and confusion I’d been experiencing about not “getting over it” as soon as I’d expected. But …
I blinked vacantly at my feet. My breathing was finally back to its usual predictable in-and-out rhythm. Wiping my wet eyes with the heels of my hands, I wondered if I’d be able to face walking back into church — the sermon had probably begun by now and I didn’t want people to see I’d …
Christmas is something I really look forward to these days, but it wasn’t always that way. For many years I felt a sense of dread and despair whenever I even thought about family occasions like Christmas Day. If Christmas is a joyful time for you, that’s wonderful! I’m sharing the poem, below, to give you …
This is the whole Thankfulness Mini-Series in one post. It’s a 10-minute read. If you prefer to read shorter posts, I understand: brain fog is real! I’ve divided this longish post into three shorter sections, which you can find here. .. .. I’m a big believer in thankfulness. It’s important and beneficial to count your …
This is Part 2 of the Hope Series. You can read Part 1 here. It’s been a year since I embarked on that new treatment path. Sadly, none of the prescribed medications or supplements have made a significant impact on my ability to function. Some of them have even made me feel worse! What sorts …
This is Part 1 of the Groaning Series. You can read the intro here. Groaning: a godly response to suffering?! After studying the book of Job last year, I realised something: I’ve been putting a lid on my sorrow. I’ve been keeping my grief to myself, rather than talking to God about it. I don’t …
Hope hurts when our prayers for relief remain unanswered. Here, I share a personal story of hope and disappointment, and talk about hope in God.