Suffering and the Providence of God
Providence isn’t a theory meant for armchairs — it’s the difference between living landlocked in fear and living anchored in hope.
I Know What I Need to Be Doing
Every January, I come back to three risky prayers — because they invite Jesus to disagree with my plans. When I finally asked with real openness, one word surfaced: with. Then a face: my 89-year-old dad. The invitation was simple — Friday lunch — and it reshaped my year. The third answer surprised me too: silence, walking my neighborhood with God.
A God with Scars
When Sonya lost her dad, grief nearly swallowed her faith. But in the Gospels she noticed something — even after the resurrection, Jesus still carried scars. The marks of pain weren’t erased; they became part of the story. That realization steadied her: you can trust a God with scars. The Incarnation isn’t abstract theology — it’s God stepping into our suffering, and never leaving us alone in it.
Our Search for Meaning: Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” continues to resonate decades after its publication, exploring how purpose can transform suffering into strength. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, observed that hope and meaning were lifelines for those enduring unimaginable hardship. His reflections not only illuminate human resilience but also echo truths central to the Christian faith: that our lives are part of a larger story, and even in suffering, purpose and redemption can be found.
What Suffering Prepares
Our sufferings are always preparation for callings—which are, at the highest level, to join Jesus in his work of healing, restoring, and redeeming this world.
When You Or Someone You Love Is Suffering
Pastor Prather takes a look at the book of Job, which he considers the best guidebook he knows for dealing with suffering and loss. As he says, it is an ancient work with timeless applications.