Suffering can make us wonder what we did wrong or why God would allow something so painful. Job’s story challenges that assumption. Perhaps trials are not evidence of God’s displeasure at all. Perhaps the fire we would never choose can become the very thing through which He refines us into gold.
Tag: change
“Only Jesus”
Without being too specific, a while ago I was overthinking a personal disappointment. In the middle of that mental churn, the song “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns came up on my playlist. The timing felt more than coincidental. The lyrics center on rejecting personal legacy and worldly recognition in favor of pointing to Christ. They…
Transfers: Smile Because They Happened
Transfers during your mission can be hard, but in the long run they bring a lot of joy.
Ready for Match Point
Recently, I saw part of a speech Roger Federer gave last year at a commencement ceremony. The world renowned tennis champion said: “In tennis, perfection is impossible… In the 1,526 singles matches I played in my career, I won almost 80% of those matches… Now, I have a question for all of you… what percentage…
Sea Stacks and the Sacrament
I love the Oregon coast. Some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen is tucked away among its 116 beaches. In particular, the many sea stacks catch my eye. The formation of Sea Stacks Sea stacks are “isolated outcrops of rock standing in the ocean”. These outcrops form because sections of land along…
The Rosary in the Sauna
Sometimes the most powerful lessons in faith come from unexpected places. A stranger’s quiet devotion in a crowded sauna challenged me to examine my own heart: How deeply do I yearn for God? Transformation rarely happens all at once. It comes through daily seeking, repentance, communion, and a desire to draw nearer.
Mercy in Both Pockets
I was at a worship service recently as a senior couple reported back after serving a full-time mission to some of the poorest among us. As they shared their experiences, they spoke of someone who was an example to them and described him as having “mercy in both pockets.” I really love this imagery. I…
Strait vs. Straight: The Path in Lehi’s Dream
The path up Camelback Mountain twists, climbs, and sometimes gives hikers a welcome handrail to grasp. Lehi’s dream describes another difficult path with something placed alongside it to hold. Maybe “strait and narrow” tells us something important about discipleship, difficulty, and why God gives us a rod for the journey.
Moving Is Hard
Moving is hard. I find the last bit of packing and loading a truck the most challenging. The final items strewn everywhere around the house seem endless sometimes; they aren’t enough of “one thing” for a box category of their own, but somehow they could take up multiple boxes if thrown together. They end up…