Category Archives: suffering

Holy Laughter

Posted on June 21, 2020 by mhrockness

“Walk independently of self, and straight to God.  What is anything, when you think of Eternity, except a means to get there; so laugh at everything, and go on in God’s name.”  Recently I was made aware of these words … Continue reading →

Posted in suffering, testings, trials | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

Parables of the Cross

Posted on October 10, 2015 by mhrockness

It is in the stages of a plant’s growth, its budding and blossoming and seed-bearing that this lesson has come to me:  the lesson of death in its delivering power.  It has come as no mere far-fetched imagery, but as … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross, death, Faith, freedom, growth, life, nature, renunciation, suffering | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Path of Life

Posted on March 29, 2015 by mhrockness

  “Death is the gate of life.”  Does it look so to us?  Have we learnt to go down, once and again, into its gathering shadow in quietness and confidence, knowing that there is always “a better resurrection” beyond?   … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, life, light, suffering | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen

Posted on October 10, 2014 by mhrockness

One could literally do nothing but pray at every available bit.  One might take up letters or accounts that seemed as if they were a “must be” – but one had to drop them within five minutes, almost invariably, and … Continue reading →

Posted in difficulty, strength, suffering, testings | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Sad That Won’t Go Away

Posted on April 25, 2014 by mhrockness

The beauty of that line of Hebrew poetry came afresh today.  The thickest of the cloud storm would be just where He is passing.  We see the dust now.  We shall see His Footprints when He has passed along the … Continue reading →

Posted in difficulty, suffering | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

“It is when the death of winter has done its work that the sun can draw out in each plant its own individuality, and make its existence full and fragrant.  Spiritual growth means something more than the sweeping away of … Continue reading →

Posted on August 16, 2013 by mhrockness | 7 Comments

Passing Through

Posted on June 28, 2013 by mhrockness

“The word God has given is ‘passing through.’  Passing ‘through’ the broken-up gate (Micah).  Passing ‘through’ the stoning crowd (Luke).  Passing ‘through’ the wall of waves (Hebrews 11).  ‘By faith, they passed through’ – not on one side, avoiding the place … Continue reading →

Posted in difficulty, perseverence, suffering, trust | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Beauty From Brokenness

Posted on May 24, 2013 by mhrockness

“Conscious weakness as a preparation for service is one thing; brokenness is another.  We may know that we are but earthen pitchers, like Gideon’s, with nothing of our own but the light within, and yet we may not have passed through the … Continue reading →

Posted in beauty, suffering, weakness | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Glory of His Gladness

Posted on April 4, 2013 by mhrockness

 “Yes, life is the uppermost – resurrection life, radiant and joyful and strong – for we represent down here Him who liveth and was dead and is alive forevermore. , ,   Oh let us not dim it by a shadow of morbidness or … Continue reading →

Posted in light, suffering | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Holy Hush

Posted on March 29, 2013 by mhrockness

“There came such a lovely sense… of what it means to be “buried with Christ” – not only dead but buried – “put to silence in the grave” – ‘I can’ and ‘I can’t’ put to silence side by side … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross, Holy Saturday, Lent, sacrifice, suffering | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment