What should Christians remember in the midst of troubles?

 t was just after 11 p.m. on an unusually cold January night in north Florida when the knock came at our door — a dreaded knock that no parent ever wants to receive. The knock informed us that our 23-year-old firstborn son, a firefighter and paramedic, had just died.

And it felt as though we died. Our hearts were frozen stiff in that cold night air.

How do you go on? How do you endure in the midst of suffering? How do you face the deepest miseries of life? What are the things that will ballast your soul in fierce storms of this present evil age?

Here are three plain biblical truths that have helped me. They are not new truths. They are probably all things you already know and believe. They are certainly things that as a pastor, I had known and believed for many years, and yet they are truths that have, in the midst of personal tragedy, become more precious to me than ever before.

1. God is always good

After Sam died, I did what I often do. I read. I read the Bible. I read books on suffering, on grieving, on loss, on lament, and a lot of books on heaven. But of all the things I read, one of the most surprisingly helpful things came from a children’s book by Jonathan Gibson called The Moon Is Always Round. I had picked it up to read with my disabled daughter to help her process her loss. I think in the end, it may have been just as helpful for me.

In this little book, Dr. Gibson uses an analogy drawn from the phases of the moon to help explain the goodness of God. The simple illustration is that in spite of the way things may appear from our perspective, “The moon is always round.” Sometimes it may look like an apple slice or a squished orange, and sometimes it may give only a sliver of light, but however it might appear, the truth remains that the moon is always round.

And what is true of the moon is true of God. Sometimes, in the dark night of the soul, God’s goodness appears hidden: hidden behind deep sorrows, profound losses, and excruciating griefs. And yet the Scriptures testify to the fact that in spite of how it might appear, God is always good:

“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 100:5).

He is good in His being, in His works, and in all His ways, and He does not change (Mal. 3:6). So even when it is hard for us to see, even when His goodness seems hidden by the shadow of a difficult providence, we can trust in the goodness of God.

There is no greater demonstration of that fact than the cross itself. Nowhere does the dark shadow of God’s providence seem to cover His goodness more than at Calvary. And yet even there, even when His face seemed to be most hidden, the light of His goodness was shining in all its resplendent roundness. If this was true on that darkest day of history, then it is true in your darkest day as well.

2. God works evil things for good

The second truth is a corollary of the first. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph makes the profound confession that what his brothers had meant for evil “God meant for good.” The same God who summoned the famine was also the God who sent Joseph ahead of them to save them. In the end, Joseph would get to see the good that God had been doing. After all, Joseph says, “God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.” Those people included his brothers and the whole house of Israel. But Joseph didn’t get to see that in the midst of the trial, in the pit, in the dungeon, or when his feet and neck were bound. In those times, the word of the Lord was testing him. Would he trust that God was good and working good in spite of how it seemed? (Ps. 105:16–19).

We may never get to see all the good that God is doing. The secret things belong to God (Deut. 29:29). But I trust that one day in glory we may yet get to behold the full tapestry of God’s providence. And perhaps then we will better appreciate how these perplexingly dark threads were woven into the whole of His purposes serving to make the surrounding threads of His goodness shine all the more brightly.

3. God is working all things together for good in me

The third truth is a corollary of these first two. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” The good that God works is specifically “for those who love” Him and “who are called according to his purpose.” It is a particular sort of good: that we might “be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29).

Through suffering, God is conforming us to the image of His Son. When we are faced with personal tragedies, we should remember that God is not just working outside of us, but He is working in us. He is sanctifying us and shaping us to become more like Christ. It’s not in a way we might choose, but it’s in a way that He knows is best.

Just about every morning, I still walk to the cemetery where my son is buried. Some days it feels more like limping. And every day, I long for that day when Jesus will come again to wipe these tears from my eyes, to raise our bodies from the dust, and to make all things new. Until then, every day I kneel at my son’s grave, and I draw two things in the dirt. I draw a moon to remind myself that God is always good, and I draw a cross to remind me of the greatest expression of His goodness. And then I pray that this suffering would not be wasted on me, but that God would be pleased to use it to conform me into the image of His Son.

The liver performs hundreds of essential functions in the body

 The liver performs hundreds of essential functions in the body, including storing glucose from the food you eat, producing bile for the digestion of fats, and filtering harmful toxins out of the blood before they cause damage to other vital organs. Unfortunately, the carbohydrate-heavy Western diet and our modern sedentary lifestyles can cause fatty tissue to build up inside the liver, resulting in inflammation which limits the organ's ability to perform these crucial tasks.

A combination of diet, exercise, and a well-rounded supplement can assist your liver's natural ability to flush out toxins and fat, helping to relieve abdominal fullness, boost energy levels, and improve mental clarity.

The 5 Must-Have Ingredients for a Good Liver Supplement

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

N-acetyl cysteine is a precursor to the powerful antioxidant glutathione, which helps neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that cause inflammation and fatty buildup in the liver. In addition, NAC has been shown to play a pivotal role in promoting your liver's natural ability to filter toxins from the blood. In this way, this essential compound offers the dual purpose of liver protection and detoxification.

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle contains compounds collectively known as silymarin, a group of flavonoids which have been shown to protect liver cells from toxic substances. Like NAC, milk thistle is a strong antioxidant that supports healthy liver function by defending against oxidative stress. Keep in mind, however, that not all milk thistle has the same level of silymarin content. Look for milk thistle standardized to at least 70% silymarin.

Choline

Choline is an essential nutrient naturally present in meat, fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs. One critically important role of this compound is to transport fats out of the liver, thus avoiding lipid buildup within healthy tissue. Due to dietary restrictions, vegetarians and vegans are particularly at risk of a deficiency.

Dandelion

Dandelions are rich in antioxidants, which help protect the liver against free radical damage and the inflammation that follows. In addition, it supports the production of bile, which aids in the efficient digestion of fats and their expulsion from the body. Look for formulas which contain dandelion root rather than an extract of the entire plant, as the root has a higher concentration of liver-cleansing compounds.

Artichoke

Like milk thistle, artichoke contains silymarin and another similar compound called cynarin. While these antioxidants help promote optimal liver function, other compounds help improve bile flow to flush toxins out of the body. Artichoke leaf extracts are rich in liver-protective flavonoids, while extracts of the stem and root are less so.

Bible has been translated into its 800th language.

An estimated 6.2 billion people can now read the word of God in their native tongue, after the Bible has been translated into its 800th language.

Wycliffe Bible Translators is celebrating the milestone, but have reiterated there is still more to do as one in five people are waiting for a text in their own language. 

Some of the most recent versions being worked on include Weh and Mokpe (both spoken in Cameroon), Ifè (spoken in Togo and Benin), Koma (a language in Ghana), and Shor (in Siberia)

The number of languages that have had the complete Bible translated has doubled since 1998. More than 100 translations have completed in the past six years, giving a further 500 million people access to the word of God. 

The translators believe it shows a team effort between local translation teams, their communities, supporters and outside agencies, helped by technological advancements.

James Poole, Wycliffe’s executive director, said: “This is an extraordinary time for world mission. Over recent decades we have seen remarkable progress, with translation work accelerating in many parts of the world. Communities are receiving the Bible far sooner than would have seemed possible only a generation ago.

“That matters because it means people are gaining access to God’s word in languages they understand deeply and naturally. As churches engage with the Scriptures in their own languages, they are better equipped for evangelism, discipleship and ministry. God is at work, and we have the privilege of being part of this historic moment.”

He added that there is a “sense of urgency” to ensure all have access to the Bible, as “every language represents people whom God loves”. 

The Egyptian convert in a potential life imprisonment or death sentence.

Thirty-year-old Said Mansour Rezk Abdelrazek is due to stand trial at Egypt’s Terrorism Circuit Court on 15th June and faces a potential life imprisonment or death sentence. 

The fiancée of an Egyptian man who is facing trial over converting to Christianity has issued an urgent appeal for journalists to “break the silence” over what she describes as “state-sanctioned religious persecution”.

He is officially recorded as an international religious prisoner of conscience by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

Sophie F who is Australian has joined Amnesty International’s “Urgent Action” appeal to bring attention to a “severe, time-sensitive international human rights crisis unfolding in Egypt”. They say Said's only "crime" is converting from Islam to Christianity and attempting to legally update his religious designation on his national identity card so he can marry his fiancé in a church.

According to his partner, following his conversion to Christianity, Egyptian authorities targeted him through arbitrary arrests and surveillance. In 2018, Said fled to Russia, where he sought asylum and obtained temporary protection status for a year. In 2024, the Russian authorities deported him back to Egypt where campaigners say he was subjected to horrific physical torture, including being severely beaten and suspended for hours in a "crucifixion" position to force him to renounce his Christian faith. He has steadfastly refused to return to Islam.

The campaign says Said’s case “exposes a deeply disturbing systemic reality” that “Egypt routinely weaponises anti-terrorism laws to silence peaceful citizens and religious minorities”. Freedom of religion or belief is part of Egypt’s constitution and the campaign says that by prosecuting private faith as a national security offence, it is in breach of its own laws. 

A Catholic bishop has been shot dead in Mozambique

 A Catholic bishop has been shot dead in Mozambique. Fifty-year-old Osorio Citora Afonso, the Bishop of Quelimane and Apostolic Administrator of Beira, was shot in the chest in what the Church is describing as "mysterious circumstances".

His body was found on 6th June at his official church residence in Quelimane, in the east of the country.

Nathalie Raffray from the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) told Premier Christian News that he was a very popular bishop who was committed to promoting the values of peace and reconciliation.

She said he spoke openly about the troubles in Mozambique, and his death had left the Church in Mozambique in a state of shock.

"They received the news with profound sorrow, as we might imagine, and have appealed for the serenity of faith and the fraternal solidarity of the entire Catholic community and the Mozambican people in the face of this truly tragic event," she said.

Pope Leo said he had "learned with sorrow of this serious act of violence" and was praying for the people of the dioceses and for Mozambique.

The President of Mozambique, Daniel Francisco Chapo, also described the bishop's death as "an irreparable loss for Mozambican society and for the Christian community".

Although no one has yet claimed responsibility for Bishop Osorio's death, it comes at a time of increasing jihadist attacks in Mozambique.

The President of Mozambique, Daniel Francisco Chapo, also described the bishop's death as "an irreparable loss for Mozambican society and for the Christian community".

Although no one has yet claimed responsibility for Bishop Osorio's death, it comes at a time of increasing jihadist attacks in Mozambique.

ACN warned last week that Islamic extremists had openly declared their intent to establish a caliphate in the country. Raffray said that since 2017, 6,300 lives had been lost to jihadist violence, with more than one million people displaced.

She added: "It's just so shocking for all Christians, and even Muslims, because Christians and Muslims get on with each other in these parts of the world. These are extremists who are doing this, so there is a call for peace."

The same America that points fingers at Iran spent years arming, funding, and empowering the very terrorists they now claim to hate

A former United States Counterterrorism Chief (JOE KENT) just admitted openly that America built Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Not to fight terror. To fight Iran. To protect Israel.

Read that again.

The same America that points fingers at Iran spent years arming, funding, and empowering the very terrorists they now claim to hate. And when those terrorist groups became too powerful? They simply changed their leader’s title from “wanted terrorist” to “president.”

Look at the pictures.

The man now running Syria was a founding member of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. The same organization that became ISIS. The United States placed a ten-million-dollar bounty on his head. Then Russia became busy in Ukraine. Turkey moved him and his thousands of fighters into Syria. They removed Bashar Al-Assad—something Washington celebrated. And then Donald Trump personally removed him from the FBI’s wanted list and placed him as the president of Syria.

Trump even said it himself on video. He admitted he is the one who put him there.

Now let us talk about money.

When ISIS was burning cities and slaughtering people, who was funding them? Qatar. This is not a rumor. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Qatar for four years because of it. And Trump himself confirmed it during his first term. The evidence has been there all along.

But here is the part that should make you angry.

If you are Nigerian. If you are African. You have been told repeatedly that Iran is a terrorist country. You have heard it on your news. You have seen it on American channels. You have repeated it to your friends and family.

Yet the truth is this: Al-Qaeda and ISIS are Sunni groups. Iran practices Shia Islam. These terrorist groups hate Iran the same way they hate Christians. They have declared Iran an enemy. They have killed Shia Muslims for decades. Iran has never controlled them. In fact, Iran has been fighting against them.

Last year, US Senator Scott Perry testified before the Senate that America, through USAID, directly funded Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram.

Let that sink in.

The same America calling Iran a terrorist nation was funding the very terrorists killing innocent people across Africa.

So who is the real terrorist?

For over forty years, Iran has been in conflict with Israel and the United States. That is the real reason they have been labeled a terrorist country. Not because they sponsor terrorism. But because they refuse to bow. And the Western media machine has repeated that lie so many times that even Africans who have never seen an Iranian now believe it.

You are being used.

Your mind has been shaped by people who do not care about your country or your safety. They created the monsters. They funded them. They placed them in power. And then they turned to you and said, “Look at Iran.”

Now ask yourself: who benefits when you hate the wrong enemy?

Who benefits when you direct your anger at the one country that actually fights the same groups destroying parts of Africa?

Do not let yourself be manipulated.

The story is changing. The truth is coming out. But you must be willing to see it.

Michika in Adamawa State, northern Nigeria. Rev. Lawan Andimi was asked deny Christ and live or remain faithful and die

January 2020, Michika in Adamawa State, northern Nigeria. Rev. Lawan Andimi, a pastor and regional chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, was taken by Boko Haram. He was not seized at random. He was a known Christian leader, a visible voice, and he was chosen.

In captivity, he was given a clear demand: deny Christ and live or remain faithful and die. A video was released. He did not appear shaken or desperate. Instead, he spoke with calm certainty, saying, “I have never been discouraged… I thank God for everything.” He told his family not to weep, but to remain steadfast in the faith.

Days later, he was executed. It was not hidden. It was meant to be seen, a deliberate warning to Christians across the region. Yet in the face of death, he did not recant or retreat. He remained firm to the end, a pastor who would not abandon the message he preached, even when it cost him his life.

Prayers in comfort

 1. A Prayer for Direction

Sometimes, you’re not sure where to turn or which decision to make. Thankfully, God has promised wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5).

Father, show me Your plan for my life. I’m confused and not sure where to turn. I need Your wisdom to make the right choice. Thank You for Your guidance and direction.

2. A Prayer Against Stress

Too often, stress from the outside world makes its way into our homes. And that can lead to tension and turmoil under your roof. Prayers for your family and for the situation can make a huge difference.

Lord, I’m feeling stressed out right now. It’s hurting me and hurting my family. Please replace my stress with Your peace and help each member of the family experience Your presence in a powerful way.

3. A Prayer About Finances

The Bible is filled with wise advice about handling money, but it remains a primary pain point for many families. A short prayer for family during difficult financial times helps us focus on our ultimate Provider.

Heavenly Father, nothing catches You by surprise. You know about our needs before we even mention them to You. And You have promised to supply for our needs according to Your matchless resources. Thank You in advance for Your provision.

4. A Prayer for Healing

Sickness can be scary. Whether it’s a life-threatening situation or simply an inconvenience, an illness has the potential to create fear in our hearts and minds. But God is our Healer, and we can bring that need to Him as a family.

Great Physician, You are the God who heals. You created our bodies, and You can bring them back to health. So, we pray for healing—whether by medicine or by miracle. And we pray for Your comfort and peace as we wait on Your perfect timing.

5. A Prayer of Gratitude

One of the most difficult situations families face is remaining thankful in the middle of a hard season. Yet, prayers for our families in difficult times should include a spirit of gratitude for the God who works all things for our good and His glory.

Dear God, You have seen our affliction and have walked with us every step of the way. I thank You for what You do, but I thank You even more for who You are. Help us to live in gratitude because Your mercies are new each day.

6. A Prayer for Unity

The psalmist said that it’s “delightfully good when brothers live together in harmony” (Psalm 133:1). But sometimes family members wrestle to find common ground. Praying for your wife and praying for your children in difficult times can reduce the tensions and the potential for conflict.

Lord, You are not a God of chaos and disorder. Protect our family from discord and division. Help us to live in perfect unity with one another, even as the Father, Son, and Spirit live in perfect unity with one another.

7. A Prayer for Comfort

Grief and loss can take a tremendous toll on family members. God understands because He is the “Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Bring your broken heart to Him.

Loving Father, You know we are hurting. At times, it feels like the pain is more than we can bear. But we confess that You are the God of all comfort. Meet us where we are in this moment and help us find rest in You.

Come together

As men of God, saying a short prayer for family should come as naturally as our next breath. We should be eager and willing to raise our families and their needs to our heavenly Father each day.

These prayers can be part of your personal Bible study and prayer time. But you also might consider using these short prayers for family in difficult times during family devotions. Hearing people praying for one another can lead to incredible things.

In any case, come to God in prayer as a family. Lean into Him. Trust in Him. He is your strength and your shield. And you can give your cares to Him because He really does care for you.

Isaiah 54:10

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Loving and powerful God, at times my world seems to be shaking around me like an earthquake. Replace my fear with the knowledge that neither shaken mountains nor flattened hills can take me away from your unfailing love. Thank you for the promise of your peace and compassion. I choose to rest in you. In the name of the risen Christ, Amen.

Psalm 42:11

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

God of hope, at times I wonder if this sadness will ever end; then I remember that my hope—my only hope—is in you, and I choose to praise you. Scripture says you delight in your people. I know that when I praise you, I am in your presence even in my deep sadness. Thank you for being my Savior and my God. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 31:9-16

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief (Psalm 31:9).

Father, I pray today for those whose eyes have grown weak with sorrow, whose soul and body are weighed down by grief, and whose strength may be failing. Lord, pour out your mercy upon them. Let your face shine upon them and save them in your unfailing love. Empower them to trust in you, to say that “you are my God,” and “my times are in your hands.” In the name of our merciful Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Psalm 62:1-8

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge (Psalm 62:5-7).

Loving Father, I pray today that those who are grieving may find rest in you alone. Be their rock, salvation, and fortress so that they will not be shaken by any assaults from the evil one. Empower them each day to trust in you, to pour their heart out to you, for you are our refuge. Help them recognize any unacknowledged anger and give them courage to express all the complicated emotions that come with grief and loss. In the strong name of your Son, our Savior, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Lamentations 3:19-23

I remember my afflictions… yet I call this to mind and I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning (Lamentations 3:21-23).

Heavenly Father, in the midst of whatever afflictions they might be facing, may they experience your hope, mercy, and compassion afresh and anew in this day and in the days to come. Give them the courage to continue to cry out to you, knowing that you hear. In the name of the Father of compassion, I pray, Amen.

GPHI-MARANATHA