We start a new series today called Desert Stories, focusing on how God works in our lives through “wilderness” seasons; times of suffering and struggle, times of grief and loss. In this first episode, Ben, Matt, and Ben share some of their own desert stories to kick off the series.
Links from this episode
And here’s the quote from Henri Nouwen that was read at the end of the episode:
I really want to encourage you not to despair, not to lose faith, not to let go of God in your life, but stand in your suffering as a person who believes that she is deeply loved by God. When you look inside yourself, you might sometimes be overwhelmed by all the brokenness and confusion, but when you look outside toward him who died on the cross for you, you might suddenly realize that your brokenness has been lived through for you long before you touched it yourself.
Suffering is a period in your life in which true faith can emerge, a naked faith, a faith that comes to life in the midst of great pain. The grain, indeed, has to die in order to bear fruit and when you dare to stand in your suffering, your life will bear fruit in ways that are far beyond your own predictions or understanding… Spend some time each morning doing nothing but simply sitting in the presence of God and saying the Jesus Prayer. Gradually, God will enter your heart in a new way and bring new light into your struggle.
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