At one extreme during the COVID coronavirus was the claim that the pandemic was a judgement from God or at least a wake up call from him. I have responded to this claim frequently and in detail in the past. However at the other extreme is the argument that God cannot have sent the pandemic… Continue reading Does the Good Father really allow his children to suffer?
Tag: Suffering
Friendly fire
What is the cause of suffering amongst the Christians James writes to? Sometimes suffering is caused by external persecution because God’s enemies want to attack us as we seek to live godly lives. Sometimes our suffering is simply down to our circumstances, we live in a fallen world. Both of those factors may have been… Continue reading Friendly fire
Life in the valley of the shadow of death
Here’s a Faithroots Podcast on Psalm 23.
Faith, suffering and healing
One of the most common questions we tend to ask is to do with faith, suffering and healing. That’s probably because our health can be so often where we face suffering and where faith is tested. Even if we don’t face persecution, we are likely to face ill health at some point and will know people… Continue reading Faith, suffering and healing
A strange source of joy
It is easy to be happy and contented when things are going well, when there’s good news and obvious hope. How do we respond however, when things are not going so well? A look at the text (read James 1:2-4) James says that we aren’t only to find happiness in the good times. Instead, we… Continue reading A strange source of joy
911 22 years on
Every September we are reminded of the passage of time as a new school year starts and Sarah realises that the new intake won’t have been alive at key milestones in our lives. If a former generation remember where they were when we put a man on the moon or when JFK was shot, for… Continue reading 911 22 years on
Search for a new queen
Ahasuerus has dealt with his embarrassment and shame by removing Vashti as his queen. Some time passes and he begins to think over what has happened (Esther 2:1). His attendants offer their advice. Incidentally, they are described as “lads” and there seems to be a youthfulness to them they are not wise old advisors. This… Continue reading Search for a new queen
Scripture, sovereignty and suffering: Where might that conversation with a rabbi have gone?
Remember my aborted conversation with the Rabbi. The dilemma that was put to him was that if God had done the great deeds recounted in the rest of Torah building up to the point in Deuteronomy when the people are about to enter the land of Canaan, then why do does it fall onto the… Continue reading Scripture, sovereignty and suffering: Where might that conversation with a rabbi have gone?
How does a Christian doctrine of suffering affect counselling of the bereaved?
In June 2005, my Great Aunt was mugged and knocked unconscious. She died in hospital two days later. As a family we went through the full range of emotions; shock and sadness at the tragic loss, anger at those who did it, guilt at our failure to visit “Auntie” more often. Whilst each bereavement is… Continue reading How does a Christian doctrine of suffering affect counselling of the bereaved?
Continuing to trace the rainbow
Back a few months back, as the news came in that Queen Elizabeth II had died, a rainbow appeared over Windsor Castle. It was a beautiful symbol of God’s goodness and promises at a time of grief. I’ve frequently talked in terms of “tracing the rainbow” based on the lyrics of the hymn “Oh Love… Continue reading Continuing to trace the rainbow
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