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Atheist Doctor’s Last Words to His Wife Are “Don’t Call 911”—7 Days Later, He Wakes Up From Coma & Gives God ALL the Glory

Dr. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon and former agnostic, suffered a rare and severe case of streptococcal meningitis which caused his brain to flatline. Dr. Alexander made a miraculous recovery and says the experience taught him to “realize that our souls are eternal.”

Dear Husbands: If You’re Not Doing This, Don’t Complain That Your Marriage Sucks

"While you are not her Savior, and shouldn’t carry that burden around, you are there to protect her. She has one knight in shining armor with skin on in this world. You."

Husband Leaves Wife at 8 Months Pregnant—5 Weeks Later, She Finds This in the Oven

After an infertility journey and fixing up a new house, this soon-to-be mom entered the biggest struggle of her life. Her new life's headline read, 'Husband Leaves Pregnant Wife.' See what her community did to bless her.

Dear Christians, Stop Giving Thanks For Everything

To give thanks FOR all circumstances is to say that the situation itself (rather than what might arise from it) is good. We risk calling good what is evil.

And when we do this, we skew the vision of God’s creation and recreation. We present (to ourselves or to others) the idea that the world as it is, with all of its bruises and scars and brambles and deep pain, is what God intended for us. We turn God into a cruel or distant being who wants us to say thank you for injustice, inhumane suffering, and evil.

These things that are so far from the vision of shalom in scripture shouldn’t be celebrated. They should be named for what they are.

The Psalms, the prayer book of the Israelites, is not comprised only of prayers of thanksgiving, but also prayers of lament. They give us space to complain when things don’t line up with the goodness of what God creates.

By all means, look for things to give thanks for in the hardest seasons, in the biggest instances of injustice and evil. Look for ways that God might be working, that God might be meeting you in the midst of the pain. Cling to the hope and the promises and the new creation as if your life depends on it.

But also give yourself permission to lament, to fight against evil, to kick against darkness, to speak truth, to enact shalom.

Julianne Gilchrist
Julianne Gilchrist
Julianne Gilchrist is a spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and mom to three. She loves creating space for others to slow down and (re)connect with God. She and her husband run a small business designed to help those in ministry rest, reflect, and grow. She spends her free time exploring the outdoors with her family, trying not to fall off her paddleboard, or taking her dog for long walks by the river. You can find her on Instagram at gilchrist_coaching or online at gilchristcoaching.com.

Atheist Doctor’s Last Words to His Wife Are “Don’t Call 911”—7 Days Later, He Wakes Up From Coma & Gives God ALL the Glory

Dr. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon and former agnostic, suffered a rare and severe case of streptococcal meningitis which caused his brain to flatline. Dr. Alexander made a miraculous recovery and says the experience taught him to “realize that our souls are eternal.”

Dear Husbands: If You’re Not Doing This, Don’t Complain That Your Marriage Sucks

"While you are not her Savior, and shouldn’t carry that burden around, you are there to protect her. She has one knight in shining armor with skin on in this world. You."

Husband Leaves Wife at 8 Months Pregnant—5 Weeks Later, She Finds This in the Oven

After an infertility journey and fixing up a new house, this soon-to-be mom entered the biggest struggle of her life. Her new life's headline read, 'Husband Leaves Pregnant Wife.' See what her community did to bless her.