Would a Loving God Purposely Wound Us Through Trials?

By Randy Alcorn August 5, 2020

God does not love us on our preferred terms, but on His own. We think to “love” means to “do no harm,” when it really means “to be willing to do short-term harm for a redemptive purpose.” A physician who re-breaks an arm in order for it to heal properly harms his patient in order to heal him.

Temporary Darkness, Eternal Light

By Randy Alcorn June 19, 2020

Some depression comes from simply feeling the crushing weight of pain and brokenness in one’s life and the lives of others around the globe. Of course, self-preoccupied woe-is-me depression quickly becomes deeply unhealthy. But sometimes when we feel burdened, we may simply be joining the whole of creation in groaning because of a suffering world. In that case, we’re in good company, for “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” (Romans 8:26).

Discovering the Wonders of God in the Low Tides of Life

By Randy Alcorn June 12, 2020

Over the years, God has been faithful in what I call “the low tides” of life. In those times, I’ve seen Him in ways not always visible during high tides—periods of relative ease and comfort. As the wonders of underwater tide pools are only seen at low tide, so the wonders of God and depths of our need for Him can become visible to us in our own low tides.

Suffering, Sovereignty, and the Coronavirus Crisis

By Randy Alcorn May 15, 2020

Three weeks ago I did a 45-minute video chat with my friend Scott Lindsay of Faithlife, the makers of Logos Bible Software. We discussed suffering, God’s sovereignty, and the coronavirus crisis, and also talked about the good things that God is doing through this time.

Charles Spurgeon on Sowing in Tears, Reaping in Joy

By Randy Alcorn April 27, 2020

Charles Spurgeon said, "As the furious storm gives place to the clear sunshine, so the night of weeping precedes the morning of joy. Sorrow the harbinger; gladness the prince it ushers in."

What Looks Like a Disaster May in Fact Be Grace

By Paul David Tripp April 20, 2020

Nanci and I have been reading Paul David Tripp’s book New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional. It is just terrific, and we highly recommend it. In his March 31 entry, Paul talks about how Christ’s darkest moment gives us hope when we face our own dark times.

Losing Your Faith May Be God’s Gift to You

By Randy Alcorn April 15, 2020

Unfortunately, if our theology hasn’t prepared us for suffering, we may be more than just surprised when trials come our way. We might feel as though our faith—and God Himself—has let us down.

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy: Easter Reflections from Our Daughter Angela

By Angela (Alcorn) Stump April 10, 2020

The following is an Easter devotional Angela wrote this week for the women at her church. I hope her message of joy after sorrow will encourage your heart as you anticipate celebrating Easter Sunday, despite the difficulties of life in this season.

It Can Be Well with Our Souls, Even with the Coronavirus Crisis

By Randy Alcorn March 30, 2020

This worship, posted a few days ago here in the Age of Corona, is beautiful. It demonstrates separation but the wonderous ability to transcend it. Technology isn’t always the answer, but in this case it is truly a gift of God.

Tackling Some of the Tough Questions Related to the Coronavirus

By Randy Alcorn March 20, 2020

Last weekend, together with my friends Greg Cahalan and Steve Keels, pastors at my home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, we recorded two messages for our church body. In our first video, which was part of Wednesday’s blog, we talked about the need for God’s people to have an eternal perspective by focusing on and studying Scripture. In this second video, we tackled some of the difficult theological and practical questions Christians may have related to the coronavirus crisis.