You’re right. Your faith in Jesus makes you stand out. You’re different. To some degree, you will also suffer for it. Your reputation will suffer, you may miss out on certain opportunities, people will exclude you, you’ll get criticized… Because of that, it can be tempting to play down or ignore your faith—in part, or … Continue reading Blending in and fading away
suffering
A purpose that offsets your pain
In Psalm 37 David is feeling frustrated by his lot in life. He feels persecuted and under threat. He has a concern that bad people seem to prosper more than good people. He’s angry, and has somehow been hurt or is hurting. But this is what he says: “Do not fret because of those who … Continue reading A purpose that offsets your pain
Why your brokenness can be useful
All of us carry a certain amount of brokenness. These are problems we have, mistakes we’ve made, good-plans-gone-wrong that weight us down like the proverbial tonne of bricks. Because we think of these things as negative, we think they have no redeeming value. But know this: Your temporary brokenness can have eternal usefulness. Here’s what I … Continue reading Why your brokenness can be useful
For those who are suffering
There is a lot of suffering in the world. There is personal anguish and anxiety. There is family and relationship stress. There is oppression and violence and war. None of this surprises me because we live in a broken world. But it bothers me. It bothers me because it’s not what God intended. So, in … Continue reading For those who are suffering
