At the end of July, when we visited the Life.Church campus in Omaha, NE, they were promoting Craig Groeschel’s upcoming sermon series based on his new book. It’s called “Hope in the Dark.”
Whoa.
The title grabbed me right away…
A few months ago, our family experienced a crisis. Everyone is healthy and Joe and I are fine. ❤ But it was ground-shaking. Thankfully, the plans for our cross-country trip were already made. Though we were hesitant to still go…it was a great opportunity to get away, stick together, and stick with God.
(The added drama of Eleanor (the RV) – while stressful – provided a GREAT distraction! 😉 )
Upon returning home…and being faced with the reality once more…I tuned in to hear Craig’s first message in his “Hope in the Dark” series. I wanted to be able to recommend the book to you here, but it wasn’t released until August 21st and it’s been on back order ever since! I’m gonna hang in there!
But man…his series of three messages on this topic are some of the best I have EVER heard on grief, pain, and the confusion that comes when life gets *really* hard. Warning: these messages are raw. He goes to the depths of emotion. But they are POWERFUL! And listening to them had SUCH a profound impact on us. Anything I could even *think* to say about our experience of walking through this, I couldn’t say any better than he does here.
So I’m just going to share them with you, in case they could encourage you (or someone you know) in the same way. ❤
Thankfully, The Raab Four has made it to “Chapter 3.” But this is an important part of our story.
https://www.life.church/media/hope-in-the-dark/where-are-you-god/
https://www.life.church/media/hope-in-the-dark/waiting-on-god/
https://www.life.church/media/hope-in-the-dark/embracing-god-in-the-valley/
| Blackbird, McCartney |
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.
The Raab Four 