How desperation led one man to brave embarrassment and rejection in order to see Jesus
When we’re out of answers, desperation sets in. And often we’re led to do things we normally wouldn’t even consider!
Topic > When Life Hurts > Emotions >
When Disappointment Deceives
No one is immune to disappointment—not even God! In this booklet, counselor Jeff Olson challenges you to take an in-depth look at what is really going on when your heart…
Bring your loss to Jesus
Have you ever lost someone or something and worried that nothing would ever fill the hole left behind? Today, Discover the Word team members discuss how Jesus comforts us in the midst of our loss and grief. It’s a comforting truth coming to you today on Discover the Word!
Bring your disappointments to Jesus
How do we respond to disappointing news? What do we do when things don’t turn out as we hoped, and we have to deal with the disappointment? Today on Discover the Word, we explore that very question. What good does it do to take our disappointment to Jesus? Listen today to Discover the Word!
My Daily Struggle Against Negative Thoughts
I used to feel like I was on an emotional roller-coaster ride—experiencing a huge range of ups and downs in just one day. In a typical day, I would wake up to a bright and sunny morning that put me in a good mood.
Gift of Tears
The old lumberjack always strode with a purpose. But not today. Today the world clawed at his soul. As the gruff Swedish immigrant trudged up the hill to his family farm, tears rolled down his cheeks. The date was December 7, 1941, and Axel Gustafson had just heard the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. His sons would be going to war.
When I Couldn’t Feel God
I glanced across the hall. There were hundreds of people, all from different states across Malaysia, gathered together for the annual convention organized by my church.
Why We Must Engage Both Mind and Heart
When I was a much younger Christian, I was taught that feelings were unreliable.
When (Not) to Follow Your Feelings
As Christians striving to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we will encounter instances that require us to battle our flesh. It could be moments where we have to deliberately choose to act against our emotions
Time for Tea!
If there’s a frustration more annoying than overly complex or—worse—incomplete instructions, I’m not sure what it is. Automated answering systems, perhaps? “Your call is important to us. Please listen carefully to . . . blah, blah, blah.” That’s why I so appreciated this serene simplicity from a New Zealand-based company: “If the GPS has been recently used, you should get a fix almost immediately. If it hasn’t, put the GPS outside with a clear view of the sky and have a cup of tea.”
More than Feelings
Looking quizzically at my phone, I smiled as I discerned the message my daughter had texted. It wasn’t the words; it was the emoji. How in the world had such a small graphic managed to perfectly capture my teenage daughter’s sigh of impatience, roll of her eyes, and slightly annoyed tone of voice when saying my name? But there it was—the exasperated emoji!
Joy and Sadness
The 2015 Pixar film Inside Out is about the emotions inside an outgoing 11-year old girl named Riley. The movie is fresh and original, cleverly portraying each of Riley’s emotions as its own character—Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and last—but not least—Sadness.
Tears and Laughter
Last year at a retreat I reconnected with some friends I hadn’t seen in a long time. I laughed with them as we enjoyed the reunion, but I also cried because I knew how much I had missed them.
On the last day of our time together we celebrated the Lord’s Supper. More smiles and tears! I rejoiced over the grace of God, who had given me eternal life and these beautiful days with my friends. But again I cried as I was sobered by what it had cost Jesus to deliver me from my sin.
I thought about Ezra and that…
Breaking free from resentment
Holding on to anger and bitterness is like ingesting poison and expecting the other person to die. And today on “Discover the Word,” the Institute for Prison Ministries director Karen Swanson and our team share keys that will help us break free from resentment. Join the group today on “Discover the Word”!
Don’t Walk Away
In 1986, John Piper nearly quit as minister of a large church. At that time he admitted in his journal: “I am so discouraged. I am so blank. I feel like there are opponents on every hand.” But Piper didn’t walk away, and God used him to lead a thriving ministry that would eventually reach far beyond his church.
Although success is a word easily misunderstood, we might call John Piper successful. But what if his ministry had never flourished?
God gave the prophet Jeremiah a direct call. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,” God said. “Before you were…
How do we respond under pressure?
How do you respond under pressure? Hopefully not like Pontius Pilate. He released Jesus to the Jewish leaders for crucifixion to avoid an uprising. And to appease the emperor, Caesar. Today on “Discover the Word,” we will discuss how we too can respond the wrong way when caught between a rock and a hard place . . . depending on what . . . or Who . . . is our moral compass. A challenging discussion . . . today on “Discover the Word”!
Enduring the wilderness experience
Most of us have endured some kind of wilderness experience. And it’s in those times that what’s in our heart gets really tested. Today we welcome special guest, author Sheridan Voysey to the table to begin this week’s discussion called “Resurrection Year.” In difficult times, we may feel like “God has left the building,” especially when our “Why?” questions aren’t getting answered. Join the group today on “Discover the Word”!
