Lightning storm over a mountain, and the appearance that the mountain itself is on fire
Sometimes, intimate conversation with God is passionate and fierce.

It is God who has wronged me

When Job cried, “It is God who has wronged me!” he showed us: Sometimes, intimate conversations with God are passionate and fierce.

A bald eagle soars toward the sun's dazzling light.
I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

The purpose of the wilderness

Wilderness strips life bare. It knocks all the supports out from under us. There, we may hear God say, “I have carried you on eagles’ wings to bring you to myself.”

Back view of woman with brimmed straw hat, standing in field of tall grass, her arms outstretched at her side, her face toward the setting (or rising?) sun

Cries of the shunned

In the middle of that dark-valley time, I often found myself alone with God, crying aloud and writing passionately in my journal. During that time too, I came to identify with David, the shepherd-poet-warrior-king, in ways I had not before. For David was also ostracized by people he trusted. And he cried out in distress - and in faith.

Sun is rising above gray clouds, creating a white-yellow sky and bringing light to a misty valley between dark, forested mountains.

I shall not want: Resting in God’s provision

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” sang David, the poet-king. Or in other words, “I lack nothing.” “The Lord hasn’t given us enough!” cried Joseph’s clan. We may know and love David’s words. Yet at times, it may seem that we lack a LOT. So what do we do with that?

Closeup of dog with sad eyes, lying on blanket, looking up.

Looking up

Mini-post. It's hard to look up when you're lying prostrate. Sometimes, it seems impossible. If confusion, hurt and anger are pummeling you without mercy, you may be very tempted, when you do look up, to shake your fist.