Seeking God in Suffering – New Mercies Every Morning

New Mercies Every Morning

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. . . . —Lamentations 3:22-23

Lamentations is not lighthearted reading; it’s a collection of desperate cries from the bottom of a pit. The author laments the suffering of God’s people during their time of captivity, which left them trapped in misery for years.

But in the middle of the book, a glimmering light shines through the darkness, as the weeping writer lifts his head and proclaims hope in the God of love and compassion. We witness the progression from a downcast, bitter soul (verse 20) to an upright, resolute warrior refusing to be consumed by the troubles of life (verse 22).

The rallying cry of confidence is that God will ultimately save his people.

This passage is a favorite of my Aunt Ruth, who has become increasingly paralyzed over the past 45 years from a debilitating disease. For months at a time, she was unable to speak because of tracheal stenosis, and she has endured more than 30 surgeries. In those quiet seasons, she would still whisper to her soul, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him” (verse 24).

Aunt Ruth is one who knows that problems don’t disappear overnight, yet she testifies that God’s mercies to her are new every morning. We too can find God’s blessings in big and small ways each day if we make a point of looking for them. Great is God’s faithfulness.

Lord, we often allow the darkness of night to overshadow our daytime. Shine the light of your love on us each day so that we can see your blessings. Amen.

//Reframe Ministries//

April 9, 2021April 9, 2021

Seeking God in Suffering – Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Bright Hope for Tomorrow

DAY 14 | Psalm 33:16-22

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. —Psalm 33:22

When I say, “I hope my cancer doesn’t come back again,” it’s both a wish and a prayer. But when I say, “God gives me hope for the future,” that is confident assurance in the promises of the God who has never failed me.

Most people hope for a long life, lasting relationships, good health, and happiness. Yet we know that in a matter of minutes life can be turned upside down and inside out, and it can feel like our hopes are dashed.

For the people of God, hope is drawn from a deeper well. As the psalmist explains, we cannot rely on our own armies and horses—our own resources—to deliver us. The beautiful image is that of the God whose eyes are locked on us, whose love never fails, who is our help and shield. God paints a positive picture of our forever future.

When our hope and trust are firmly connected to our unchangeable God, we know deep in our souls that God’s love will sustain us through this life and into eternity. This means that even if our struggles return, our hope in God remains. This kind of hope is contagious. Maybe you know someone who needs to hear these words of hope today: the Lord sees you, loves you, and will sustain you.

Lord, sometimes our hope falters as we face troubles and heartaches. Renew our hope, strengthen our trust, and help us to embrace your unfailing love and share it with others. We love you. Amen.

//Reframe Ministries//

April 8, 2021April 8, 2021

Seeking God in Suffering – Strength for Today

Strength for Today

DAY 13 | Psalm 27

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? —Psalm 27:1

Before my Grandpa Mulder died, he compiled a list of Bible passages for the pastor to give to the grandchildren at his funeral. Thus his name is written alongside Psalm 27 in my Bible. It encourages me to think about how God gave my grandfather the strength to endure the difficulties in his life.

The Lord was Grandpa’s stronghold when one of his children died at age 11, when their family could barely make a living during the Great Depression, when his wife died at age 55, and when leukemia later drained him of life. The image of him looking to heaven as he sang a hymn in his hospital bed is one I will not forget.

When God’s people are besieged by an army of challenges in life—grief, financial struggles, illness—we can endure because God is our stronghold. God’s grip never loosens, even when we feel as if we are slipping away. David the psalmist writes that “in the day of trouble” God will “keep [us] safe in his dwelling” and then “set [us] high upon a rock” as a sign of victory.

This psalm is packed with words of comfort: light, salvation, confidence, beauty, safety, joy, help, mercy, and goodness. Memorizing this psalm, and repeating it throughout the day in times of difficulty, can be a sure source of strength for anyone who is suffering.

“Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. . . . You have been my helper.” Give me strength to face whatever comes my way. Amen.

//Reframe Ministries//

April 7, 2021April 7, 2021

Seeking God in Suffering – Hanging On By a Thread

Hanging On By a Thread

DAY 12 | James 5:7-11

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. —James 5:11

A friend of a friend called me: “I don’t think I can do this anymore. Would God really want me to suffer like this, day after day, with no relief?” His illness was tormenting him, and he was looking for permission to end his life. He wondered if God would be angry with him.

Suffering is not God’s will. It is part of life in this broken world; God’s light has broken into the darkness, but we still long for the complete fulfillment of God’s plan. Jesus is coming again to restore everything. Meanwhile, life can be excruciatingly difficult, and we—as God’s people—are called to persevere. Hold on tightly to hope.

James reminds readers of the perseverance of the prophets and of Job, a man who suffered greatly when he lost all his children, all his possessions, and his health. Yet he did not lose hope or give up. God was there with him and eventually restored his possessions and gave him abundantly more.

The point of Job’s story is not that he regained possessions but that he persevered in his faith in God and that God demonstrates compassion and mercy.

This is the only reply I could give to the friend who was almost ready to give up: Your life is precious to God. Hang on until God says it’s time to come home.

Jesus, you know agony and suffering, and you empathize with us when we struggle to face yet another day of pain and uncertainty. May we feel your loving arms surround us as we push forward. Amen.

//Reframe Ministries//

April 6, 2021April 6, 2021

Seeking God in Suffering – Gathering for Prayer

Gathering for Prayer

DAY 11 | James 5:13-16

Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. —James 5:14

When I learned that my cancer had returned, it was just a few days before a significant youth event that I was coordinating at our church. So I decided to keep the news close, in a small circle, and not distract people from the ministry event. My colleague, however, pleaded with me to let the elders and the church family pray.

For many people who receive bad news about serious illness, their first instinct is to try to handle it on their own. But that is not God’s design for the body of Christ. Instead, James instructs us to call the set-apart leaders, bring the people together, confess our sins, anoint with oil, and pray for healing.

The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective, and the prayer of faith can help make the sick person well. We believe God can heal—and often does—and yet we also know that faithful people can become terribly sick and die. How do we reconcile this reality with the promises of this passage?

Perhaps the wellness of the sick person and the effectiveness of the prayer go deeper than the physical condition. When I allowed the elders to lead a healing prayer service on my behalf, I felt loved, secure in God’s presence, and comforted that I had partners for the journey ahead.

You do not have to endure your suffering alone; reach out for prayer.

Lord, thank you for the family of faith. May we pray in faith for you to work mightily in whatever way you will. Amen.

//Reframe Ministries//

April 5, 2021April 5, 2021

Seeking God in Suffering – In the Stillness

In the Stillness

DAY 10 | Psalm 46

The Lord Almighty is with us. . . . He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:7, 10

When we ask children to be still, our goal is that they stop talking or crying and listen to what we have to say. Sometimes we must stand and shout this with authority, and other times we can just cradle them with a gentle “Shhh.”

In this psalm, God is using both an outdoor voice and an indoor voice to assure his children that there is nothing too big for the Lord to handle. We need not be afraid—regardless of the surrounding chaos—because God is right there with us in times of trouble. He both lifts his voice above the uproar (verse 6) and draws us close with the quiet whisper “Be still, my child; I am here.”

There are days when the pain level is so high, the disappointment so deep, and the fear so crippling that we can lose sight of the God who is our refuge and strength. Desperation can drive us away from God, and we can find ourselves craving his commanding, large-and-in-charge presence along with his intimate words of assurance.

When Jesus’ disciples cried out to him in the midst of a raging storm, Jesus stood up, rebuked the wind, and told the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”—and all was calm (Mark 4:39).

What do you need Jesus to calm in your mind and heart? Pause for a moment, and hear him inviting you into the stillness of God’s presence.

God, you know our every thought and how we let our worries crowd you out and take over. Please still our racing minds, and draw us close with your assuring embrace. Amen.

//Reframe Ministries//

April 4, 2021April 4, 2021

Seeking God in Suffering – When It’s Hard to Pray

When It’s Hard to Pray

DAY 8 | Mark 2:1-12

Some men came, bringing to [Jesus] a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. —Mark 2:3

Sometimes the suffering of life feels overwhelming, as if we are under attack and can’t find any relief. We may be debilitated by the grief of losing a loved one. Or maybe we are sick from a medical condition or treatment. Whatever the case, there are days when we feel the weight of the world on us. Lord, have mercy.

The psalmist here is feeling besieged by relentless human forces, along with the abandonment of his friends. He uses words like distress, anguish, groaning, affliction, forgotten, and terror. He fears that he will die at the hands of his enemies, and he cries out to God in agony. Lord, have mercy.

Perhaps you can recall a time you felt that way, when the walls and ceiling seemed to be closing in on you. While my personal suffering pales in comparison to that of people with chronic illness, I do remember feeling particularly burdened when—a few weeks after my second surgery for cancer—my husband had a heart attack and also needed surgery. In his recovery room, a compassionate nurse prepared a bed beside him for me to rest in as well.

Looking back on turbulent times, we can see how the Lord was with us and delivered us. God answers the cries of his people and shines his loving face on us, lighting up the darkness.

O God, you are my God, and I trust you. “My times are in your hands.” Help me not to let my life’s troubles cloud my vision of you and the hope that is found in you alone. Amen.

//Reframe Ministries//

April 4, 2021April 4, 2021

Seeking God in Suffering – Help Me Believe!

Help Me Believe!

DAY 9 | Mark 9:14-29

“Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” —Mark 9:23-24

This is both a beautiful and a dangerous story about Jesus casting out a demon. Jesus both challenges the boy’s father to believe in him, and Jesus rebukes his disciples for not believing enough.

The beauty of the story is that Jesus demonstrated his power over demonic influence and sickness to heal someone. We believe the same power of Christ lives in us! The danger with this story, though, is that some people interpret it to say that when a person is not healed of a serious illness, they do not have enough faith. But that is not the truth.

We believe that God is all-powerful. We believe that Jesus still does miraculous healings. We also believe that—on this side of eternity—sickness can lead to physical death. Jesus did not heal everyone while he walked the earth; Jesus doesn’t heal everyone today. But Jesus does promise eternal life for all who believe in his name (John 3:16). This is the truth.

My daughter got a tattoo that says “Believe” when both her father and I were battling cancer at the same time. Rather than succumb to worry, she chose to believe that God was in control, no matter the outcome. Sometimes when our circumstances feel overwhelming, our prayer can simply be “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Jesus, we believe in your power to heal both our souls and our bodies. We trust that no matter what happens to our bodies, our souls are secure in you forever. Thank you. Amen.

//Reframe Ministries//

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021