“Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But Thou hast brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.” Jonah 2:5-6 Each of us languish in different “pits” at various life stages. Yet God possesses an unfathomable power to deliver. He “is to us a God of deliverances” (Psalm 68:20). Let’s consider Jonah, a man who knew […]
photo credit: bob.bachand via photopin cc Dear Readers, This morning I was struck by the thought that when we extend mercy, it breathes hope into hardened places. This has been so true in my life. As I’ve struggled with various sins and failed time and again, God’s mercy whispers in the dark, showing compassion. Before I know it, the Lord picks me up and encourages me to take another step. Because wherever we are, whatever life looks like at the moment, we just need to […]
“Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.” ‘ ” Zechariah 1:17 They’re struggling. They keep messing up. Recovery seems just about impossible. All of us probably know someone who fits this description. One wrong decision after another leads to tragic results. Others are affected, wounded, weeping. Positive changes haven’t seemed to last. Two steps forward, three steps back … Again. […]