He Will Turn Our Grief Into Joy: Randy Alcorn recently lost his wife. He reminds us that joy does not merely come after joy, grief is turned into joy. “Jesus could have said, “Your grief will end, and joy will begin,” or, “Joy will replace your grief.” But these would separate the grief from the joy. Christ’s words connect them: your sorrow will turn into joy.”
Living in the Blackened Forest: Brianna Lambert offers this hope, “Even now, as the chaos and destruction of the fires rage, our God is working his salvation. Evil will not ultimately prosper. Our powerful God will make the wicked of the earth drink the cup they earned down to the dregs (Psalm 75:8). Yet while we wait for that day, he weaves his salvation at the foot of the forest floor. He winds his delicate flowers of comfort, grace, hope, healing, and goodness at the base of our blackened trees.”
Emotional Abuse Harms the Body Too: Nate Brooks and Ann Marie Goudzwaard begin, “Typically, a strong line is drawn between physical and emotional abuse. Physical abuse is considered to be harm inflicted on a person’s body, while emotional abuse is the pervasive, calloused treatment of a person’s feelings, desires, and emotions. Yet, emotional abuse and physical abuse are inextricably intertwined, just as physical bodies and spiritual souls are intertwined.”
Under the Tomatoes: Andrea Sanborn shares of God’s love by telling a story of her son. She begins, “My breath came hard as panic pressed on my chest. I stood in the produce section of the grocery store, scanning the aisles, desperate for a glimpse of my towheaded boy. Every parent has been in a similar situation, but most aren’t searching for a nonverbal child who can’t understand when the game has gone too far.”
When to Distrust Your Pastor: Garrett Kell writes, “In the wake of the recent admissions of reports of abuse, corruption, and cover-up in the Southern Baptist Convention, her question resonates with many others. When men who are supposed to represent Jesus hurt people under their care, it’s atrocious and disorienting. Whether you’ve been wounded directly or indirectly by such hypocrites, we all need a path forward that avoids forsaking either faith in God or trust in his church.”
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