Blogs
Thoughts and insights from Jubilee Church WirralWhere is God when it hurts?
By Dawne Cooper, Jubilee Church Wirral
Where is God when it hurts?
Everyone goes through a time in their lives when things are really tough and you don’t understand what’s going on. Relationships break down, we lose loved ones, our health fails us, we lose our jobs, and so much more. This last year, in particular, has been tough on everyone and I’m no different.
Being a Christian doesn’t make you exempt from such trials. I’m currently sitting here letting the tears flow as I mourn the loss of my precious dog, after nearly 13 years with her. I’ve also struggled to help my parents, trying to support them from a distance as my dad continues his battle with cancer. These are just a couple of the trials I face at the moment.
Am I telling you this for sympathy? No! I’m sharing this with you to show you I understand.
When we go through trials we have two choices: 1. To roll over and be defeated, or 2. Stand up and say “God, I don’t know what’s going on, or why you’re allowing this to happen, but I trust you.”
God won’t abandon you in the middle of all this. He’s the one constant, the one you can rely on, completely faithful.
I love Psalm 91 which is cram-packed full of God’s promises to protect and fight for us.
“When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue and honour him.” Psalm 91:15.
You may wonder how God will be there when it’s hurting. Well, the short answer is, it’s in the little things. It’s in the phone call or message, just when you need it most. It’s in the offer of support. It’s in the random Bible verse or song that just pops into your head. It’s in the beauty all around us. It’s in the gentle reminder that this too shall pass. It’s in the promise that “in the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
Don’t get me wrong, it won’t be easy, but God makes it possible. Do I have wobbles? Yes. Do I have days where it just doesn’t seem possible? Absolutely. But ultimately I choose joy, I choose peace, I choose to trust even when I don’t understand.
What’s your choice going to be?
Dawne Cooper with her beloved and much-missed dog Rolo
more blogs
Challenging times – who’s the boss?
Gerry Mellors on the joy of knowing that God is in charge and that it is Him, not us, who has the master plan.
Why are we called Jubilee?
Nicki Frodsham on The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – and why we are called Jubilee Church Wirral.
Easter baptisms 2022
Elizabeth, Adele, Pam, Nigel and Liam were all baptised on Easter Sunday 2022 – read this blog to find out why!
Visual art as worship
Dawne Cooper on how creating visual art can be as much a part of worship as other more traditional methods
Love has risen
Dave’s Easter message: How Jesus defeated our greatest enemies to give us Eternal Life, Perfect Love and brought us into the light.
God’s heart for the Nations
Guest blogger and ChristCentral leader Jeremy Simpkins on the amazing multi-cultural church that Jesus is building all over the world – including at Jubilee!
Today’s Mercies for Today’s Troubles
Yvonne on how God reassures us that he will supply all our strength for the day’s challenges but that we are not to spend time worrying about tomorrow or days to come.
Help!
Andrew Greenhalgh on why it’s so important to ask for help – not just from God but from others.
Perceptions
Danielle looks at perceptions and asks us if we are seeing ourselves as the world tells us to see ourselves or through what God says.
Wars and rumours of wars
Helen on dealing with fear in the face of wars and impending wars – especially if the war in Ukraine is the first war you have experienced in your lifetime.
Where should we find our identity?
Vernon Martin on how the Identity Confirmed through the lens of the Gospel series has challenged him regarding where we should find our identity.
Storms
Alison on how God has shown her His faithfulness during some difficult and painful storms and periods of feeling extremely despondent.
Leave things better than you found them!
Dave on leaving things better than we found them: Taking responsibility for the environment and being good stewards of God’s creation
Waiting for an answer to prayer
Lynne on answers to prayer and how God sometimes says yes, sometimes says no and sometimes says “not yet”
God’s got your back
Arlo on how God has our back – reminding us of His truth and unwavering support at all times.
My feet are on the rock
Denise Griffiths on how Jesus sees us through every circumstance – and understands how we are feeling in those times
Serving is a privilege
Andrew Greenhalgh on the joy of serving God at Jubilee, whatever team you are part of.
Decorating: An ecological blog
Chantal Robertson on the ways we can be ecologically sound while decorating – and save ourselves some money into the bargain too.
Going the extra mile
Nicki Frodsham says thank you to all the members of Jubilee for all the contributions during 2021, however big or small.
Do not fear!
Dave Frodsham on why we should not fear: God broke into the world as a baby to save us from fear, sin, shame and ultimately death.
Blessed by the little things
Andrew Greenhalgh on the joy of thanking God for the little things in life, from electricity to mince pies.
Matt Wilson’s baptism testimony
Matt on God’s faithfulness through years of teaching and why, as a Christian of many years, he made the decision to be baptised.
Baptism testimonies at Jubilee
Lucas, Asher, Zach and Josh on why they made the decision to be baptised at Jubilee on Sunday. Not to be missed!
Waiting
Julie on how she struggles with waiting – but how she has got closer to God while learning to wait.
Knowing the mind of God
Chris on knowing the mind of God by growing in His spirit and loving others as He loves us.
Peacemakers
Danielle reflects on Dan Morrice’s book Finding the Peacemakers and how we can be the peacemakers in our lives.
Relying on God
Andrew Greenhalgh on relying on God completely and how it completely changed his life.