suffering Archives - As It Is in Heaven

August 26, 2021September 14, 2021

How Long, O LORD, How Long? – The Psalms Series

how long o lord, waiting, suffering, God, David

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?

Turn, O LORD and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave? I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.

May 6, 2021May 6, 2021

What Are You Sacrificing for Your Life of Faith?

sacrificing for your life of faith, sacrifice, jesus, disciples, abraham, faith

How much would you say you’re sacrificing for your life of faith on a day-to-day basis?

This probably isn’t a typical discussion question with friends or family, because for many, it’s not a very comfortable conversation. Growing up, I used to think that being a Christian required a lot of sacrifice. As someone who’s definitely not a morning person, getting up early every Sunday morning for church required tons of effort. That was a sacrifice, right? Plus, I spent lots of time at countless volunteering activities and outreaches.

April 15, 2021June 10, 2021

It Is Finished: What Jesus Actually Completed

It Is Finished, fulfillment, promises, Jesus

Angry shouts filling the air, curses, beatings, humiliation, pain. And then, the final words from Jesus, “It is finished”. The event of Jesus bearing the cross is a familiar one for most Christians. But how much time do we spend truly reflecting on this moment? Recently, I was reading through the book of Matthew again and came across the account of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Churches and media everywhere commonly refer to this event on Easter or in movies. But take a moment to really put yourself into that moment. Picture what it would’ve been like to be there.

March 11, 2021April 18, 2021

…And God Will Wipe Away Every Tear

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation‬ 21:4‬

God will wipe away all of our tears. Hopefully this gives you hope and comfort. Especially considering the way the world is now, with wars, death, and suffering at every turn. Is this a world that we want to live in and are content with the way it is? For certain, it’s not for me. I’m pretty sure, none of us are content with the current state of the world. But, although we may be in the midst of endless miseries, please take heart. Because God promised a time when all of those things would come to an end. He made a promise to wipe the tears from our eyes, to create a world where there would be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.

February 11, 2021July 25, 2021

How to Have Hope in a World that Seems Hopeless

Hope. Something that everyone wants, but few are able to keep. When we look out into the world, especially with everything going on these days, hope seems like a very far-off dream.

I know I personally have had times where I struggled to hold on to hope. Everything around me felt so hopeless. In those moments, others would try to help me by telling me to “look at the bright side of things.” They would say, “just stay positive.” But this often just made me feel worse.

February 9, 2021April 18, 2021

Does God Hate Me?

Has this thought ever crossed your mind? Maybe it’s in the midst of losing your job. Maybe you’re going through unimaginable heartbreak or grieving the loss of a loved one. And we all know that when it rains, it pours. Painful thing after painful thing just keeps piling up until you hit a breaking point. You cry out to God, “Do you hate me?? Why are you letting all of these things happen to me? Don’t you love me, God? Where are you??”

January 27, 2021April 15, 2021

One Sin to Rule Them All

If you’ve read the “Lord of the Rings” books or have seen the movies, then you probably know about the “One Ring,” right?

“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them.

One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them!”

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

This ring was made by the dark lord, Sauron, to rule and dominate all life on Middle Earth. Through the use of the ring, his influence spread, and all kinds of races – elves, men, dwarves – began to fight with and distrust one another. A result of the evil that was now all over the world. The evil power of that ring allowed Sauron to control others with his will. Anyone who carried that ring began to look more and more like it’s owner – dark, evil, greedy and selfish. It caused wars between kingdoms and peoples. While the Lord of the Rings is just a story, if you look at the world today, don’t you feel the similarities? In our own world, are people more united or more divided? What is the cause of the division and fighting?

December 7, 2020April 15, 2021

The Origin of Suffering

Isn’t it an easy habit to think that man’s destiny is to live a mere mortal life? To suffer, to become old, and eventually return to dust? Do you ever wonder if every misfortune, even death, is God’s will?

In truth, God’s purpose was not for His creation to go through hardships, suffering, or even death. As we can see in Lamentations 3:33, God doesn’t willingly bring affliction or grief upon anyone. Then, where does this suffering really come from? Couldn’t we conclude that death and suffering come because of the absence of God who is life?