5 Timeless Choices When Life Sucker-Punches You
It was 5:25 a.m. My phone sounded more like a firecracker on the Fourth of July than the quiet I usually expect that early in the morning. The buzzing, ringing, dinging, and vibrating could have woken the heavens, but thankfully, our God does not slumber or sleep (Psalm 121:4)—a truth that brought peace when I […]
How to Persevere through Punctures to Your Perfect Life
Do you ever feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or simply exhausted with life? Not long ago, I did. The Cares of This World I had taken Jon, my son with disabilities, to three doctor appointments. Each appointment lasted more than two hours and ended with the recommendation that we see other specialists. There was a list of […]
The Joy of Painful Growth
[guestpost]This article is by my dad, Chuck Swindoll.[/guestpost] In our backyard in California, Cynthia and I had a couple of fruit trees that supplied our table with luscious, homegrown grapefruits and oranges. Some years, the trees bore more fruit than others. And every year, the growth of those trees reminded me about what it means […]
Transforming Your Church: From Sorry to Significant
Her lip began to quiver as she shared with me the latest update on her family. Their daughter had divorced last year, and her son with disabilities had to move home due to the mistreatment he received while away at college. Adding to that, they had just buried her father-in-law. Her grief was contained but, […]
Revolutionary Actions That Remove Regret and Renew Relationships
Shortly before midnight, my phone rang. I answered, expecting to hear her cheerful, optimistic voice. Instead, her tone was shaky, almost robotic as she spilled the shocking events of her evening. Her dad—one of our closest family friends, a pillar of faith in the community, a mentor to many, a man determined to help the […]
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Healing
Needed: Mercy and Grace from Those We Love
I often wonder what it would be like to get through one day without a jolt of terror running through my veins. One day without experiencing an off-the-chart startled response would be heavenly. A soft knock on my office door or my husband’s gentle kiss to wake me in the morning can cause me to […]
Illusions: The Danger of Believing What Is Absolutely Not True
Was the dress white with gold lace or blue with black lace? The jury’s still out on this one. In 2015, the Internet exploded over one dress. Or shall I say the color of one dress. Lies We Believe A wedding attendee shared with a few friends a photo, asking about the color of the […]
When the Life You’re Living Is Not the One You Wanted
It started 20 years ago. In God’s sovereign economy, it was planned before creation. At first, I called it a “difficult situation”—a “testimony in the making” that I believed would eventually pass. I Didn’t Want This That’s often my mind-set when life gets rough; I tell myself, This is tough, but God is good and […]
How to Find the Upside When Life Lets You Down
It can take immense work and strength to find anything remotely positive in an awful situation. Years ago, my dad and brothers planned a wild adventure: a hunting trip in one of the most inaccessible parts of Alaska . . . The Downside While my idea of bonding is shopping for fabulous shoes or choosing […]
“The Dog Ate My Homework” and Other Dumb Excuses We Need to Dump NOW
After three years of marriage, my daughter and son-in-law found a little “fixer-upper” and asked me to help them fix it up. They know I’m all about DIY stuff, especially when I see the miraculous things people do when they flip houses on TV. Those hour-long, “trash-to-treasure” shows appeal to my creative side. I couldn’t […]
Two Principles That Will Change Your Life
My son Jon suspiciously scooted his way toward me while we were playing the card game “Go Fish.” I observed his slight, smooth movements knowing exactly what was happening. Slowly, he began to lean in. So I looked into his sly eyes and asked, “Jon, is there something I can help you with?” With a […]
Three Questions We Must Leave at the Cross
Where is God when life falls apart? This isn’t a new question, but a question we often ponder when it seems we have lost everything . . . or something . . . or someone. During these difficult times, we feel that God is so far away. Years ago, a dear friend of mine experienced […]