Paul and Silas were brutally beaten and imprisoned in a Philippian jail. But they didn't do anything wrong. In fact, they'd just freed a woman from a demonic, fortune-telling spirit while going about their business - their FATHER'S business of sharing the gospel. And yet, they were violently beaten and thrown into the darkest dungeon, …
Tag: pain
When God Sends Someone
You can outrun pain for only so long before it eventually catches up to you. When you least expect it, a strange and unpredictable crumbling starts to happen. On the inside. Everything you counted on seems to be like sand running through your fingers, piling up in a bland heap. Everything you hoped for is …
When Christmas Hurts
If you're struggling with tragedy or loss during this time of year when most seem joyful, I pray this older post brings you comfort and reminds you of the hope that is yours. https://joeyrudder.com/2021/12/23/when-christmas-hurts/?page_id=757
God First
Oh, my friends. Change can be hard, and God's pruning touch can be painful. But when we keep Him first, we will not only endure but thrive. This older post of mine is helping me today as the Lord prunes things from my life. I pray it helps you too, whatever situation you're facing. Keep …
Calming the Waves of Grief
Over the past nine months, I've learned grief can come in gentle waves, lapping at my toes and tricking me into thinking, "I can do this. This isn't so bad." Other times, the waves hit me so hard that they knocked me down, threatening to drown me. Sometimes, I even wished they would. I carried …
The Place of Heartbreak
No one understands your heartache, the worries that keep you up at night, or the physical pain you push past to keep going.And most people don't realize you're hiding behind a smile while slowly crumbling and falling apart on the inside.But God knows.Your heavenly Father knows what threatens to suffocate your spirit and what has …
The Empty Table
When my mom passed away from cancer seven months ago, the pain was unbearable. I'd hold my breath as I listened to her voicemail messages just to hear her voice and scroll through my phone to see pictures I'd taken while visiting her last year. Anything I could do to hold on to her a …
God Knows Our Hearts
With dirt caked under my nails from working in the garden, I answered my sister-in-law's phone call and walked around our backyard while we talked. Suddenly, a butterfly floated in front of my face and around my head, its wings grazing my forehead. It landed on my right hand, the same hand I used to …
Snapshot
"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago." Psalm 77:11 NIV. Sometimes you only need a mental snapshot of a chair, a room, an airport, or a sidewalk to remind you of the place where your heart was wounded and your life was forever changed. Where …
Joey Rudder 