In the classic allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character, Christian, tumbles into the miry bog, the “slough of despond,” and struggles to get free. But the heavy burden on his back pulls him in deeper, and he begins to sink.
This image pictures what it feels like when we’re sinking in difficult circumstances—when our debts outweigh our income, when past hurts won’t heal, when discontentment marks our relationships, and when the light of heaven seems distant and dim. Discouragement, despondency, pain, suffering—these miry pits along life’s journey can pull us down into our own “slough of despond.”
Christian’s rescue came by the hand of a fellow traveller named Help...and the same is true for you today. Use these resources to find healing for your own life...or to minister help to those you find along life’s journey.
Few things hurt like betrayal by a close friend. When private words become gossip, trust is broken—and the pain runs deep. If you're feeling that weight, you're not alone.
Grieving is a journey, and even with God’s comfort, it’s normal to feel stuck. Here are some suggestions to help you move through long-term grief.
No one lives happily ever after on this earth, but if we cling to our faith we can be sure there will be a happy ending. Our sorrow may last for a night, but joy will come in the morning.
Never underestimate the power of your prayers. It relieves our anxiety and gives us calm assurance that God is in full control of our circumstances.
We’ve all experienced times when our prayers for healing go unanswered. But no matter what, God is in control. He heals according to His perfect timing and plan.
Pain is a part of life. And it’s in these “crucibles” our identity is shaped. Hard times are a transformative experience.
God can and does heal, Scripture makes that clear. But divine healing is something we cannot control. It happens according to God’s perfect will, in His perfect time.
If tears were indelible ink instead of clear fluid, all of us would be stained for life. The heartbreaking circumstances, the sudden loss of someone we simply adored, riding out the consequences of a stupid decision—ah! Such is the groan and grind of life.
Pastor Chuck Swindoll inspires us from Hebrews 10:19–25 to faithfully and consistently give words of life to others.
Bad memories usually revolve around two kinds of experiences: those involving a traumatic or painful incident, and those involving people who have hurt us in some way. Is there a way to forget painful memories?
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