Hardships

4 Things to Remember When You’re Discouraged

I went through a period where I was struggling with feelings of anxiety and guilt about my performance as a Christian. Then God showed me I was looking at myself and my flaws in the wrong way.

Winter Olympic Athlete Tells Why She Skates

Jinelle Zaugg-Siergiej plays forward on the U.S. Women's National Hockey Team in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Bullying Almost Broke Me

I never wanted to forgive those who hurt me.

But Christians Aren’t Supposed To Be Broken

The depression was gone, but I was surprised to find that the brokenness remained. My wound had been healed, and I was still broken.

Charleston: We Mourn With You

I don’t know how to respond as a white American Christian who is part of the majority culture. I can’t fully understand the pain or the depth of the wounds. But I’m still hurting.

Dear Dad, You Have Grandchildren Now

A Cru staff member’s letter to his deceased father, lamenting the loss and considering the influence on his own parenthood.

Death as Fertilizer

Seeing where we stop and God's Kingdom begins.

Recognizing God's Goodness

Cru missionaries, the Steinborns, see a gift -- even when wrapped in hardship.

Do People Think I’m Overreacting?

Have you noticed that when life seems to press you on all sides, the black mold of your heart surfaces…or is that just me?

Do You Feel Like You’ve Failed God?

Elliott juxtaposes the stories of Peter and Judas, as well as shares some of his personal story, to demonstrate the different ways we can respond to spiritual failure.

Does Your Job “Matter” Enough?

Facing the Great Inevitable

A story of facing death and dying with peace

Ferguson, Race, and God's Work in My Heart

Finding Home

Returning from overseas to care for her mother brings life lessons for staff member Alice Fredricks.

Finding the Courage to Change in Community

Who are you surrounding yourself with? Where are you looking for hope? Discover the courage to change.

Five Ways to Struggle Well in Unexpected Disappointment

There are three women’s names who traveled for Brazil, prepared to compete yet were never mentioned by commentators. These women didn’t get to compete for gold, but they learned how to struggle well.

Following God Through the Choices

How To Forgive Others the Way God Forgives Us

Forgiveness is often difficult, but withholding it can lead to bitterness and resentment. Learn how to offer others the same grace you have received from God.

How Do I Give Thanks Even in Suffering?

Thanksgiving is no quick, easy fix, or recipe for skipping past our emotions. In fact, it’s the opposite. When your fists are balled, hold onto God who can take on any anxiety.

Naomi describes the new “implicit” racism that our country faces today. She recounts her personal experiences with racism, speaks to its heart issue, and gives next steps for readers at different stages in their journeys with this issue.

Her Decision to Die

The news of 29-year-old Brittany Maynard’s death flooded news outlets earlier this month. But did Brittany miss something that others facing suffering find?

How Comfort Is Actually Killing Us

What does embracing the cultural value of comfort actually do to our souls?

How Not to Forget God's Promises

We are easily prone to forget the things God has done in our lives and promised us in Scripture. Here are a few ways to keep remembering.

How to Find God in a Painful Life

The book of Job illustrates how we can relate to God when we suffer.

How to Find Hope in the Midst of Suffering

Learn how God relates to us when we suffer through the Bible story of Job. We've compiled list of articles on different life struggles such as addiction, depression, spritual dryness, marital strife and more. If you are suffering from something specific today, browse this list of resources that can help you in your journey.

How to Lead When Tragedy Strikes

What do you do when people are looking to you to respond to a tragedy? Here are 3 specific things the Cru ministry in Venezuela learned when they experienced loss.

I Shared the Gospel with Oprah

A college student explained to Oprah Winfrey how God has restored her purity and hope after experiencing the horror of rape.

Lawyer’s son speaks on “Serial” podcast

Roberto Gutierrez speaks on forgiveness, justice and dealing with the popularity of the "Serial" podcast.

Lessons From a Tragedy 40 Years Ago

40 years ago, a flood took the lives of 143 people, including 7 women on staff with Cru. The aftermath might have some lessons for us today.

Do You Understand the World?

A new way of understanding the state of our world.

Faith Stronger than Hatchets

Assassins brutally attacked Sara, Tomas, and their 2 young daughters while the family was sleeping. Read Sara’s true story of tested faith.

Remembering Ferguson: My Response as A Christian Black Man

An African American man explains how he experiences the death of Mike Brown and other black men, and what we can all to do move toward healing.

Safe in the Middle East

What the Boston Marathon bombing taught me about God.

How to See God for Who He Really Is

Our view of God is important not only to who we are but how we live our lives.

Sometimes You Just Need to Stop

Staff member Jill Felix explains her journey of learning how to stop in the middle of a society that doesn’t promote rest or practice rest, well.

Spiritual Spaghetti

God’s recipes for life are best.

The Heart of a Grieving Black Mother

“As I sit on my back lanai at 6:45 a.m., listening to the birds slowly welcoming the morning, my heart is grieved by the senseless murder of another black man.”

The Journey to Loving Outside My Culture

There are practical ways to show your love & care to a friend who's grieving because it can be hard to know how to be a friend when you are needed most.

The Significance of Trials

How To Trust God As You Wait

Do I trust God enough to wait on Him? That’s what one woman wondered after a mysterious diagnosis. Here’s how she learned to wait on God even as her hope was put on hold time and time again.

We Are the Persecuted Church

How to respond to another blow to the body of Christ.

What I Did After Surviving a Mass Shooting

Jim Tucker chooses forgiveness after being shot by the gunman that also injured congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

What If Healing Doesn’t Happen?

Mallory still suffers physically, but she has found three ways to keep hope alive.

I Can't Repent

No amount of hand-wringing or plotting on my part is going to bring about a repentant heart.

When ISIS Gets Personal

Although this situation is darker, scarier, and bigger than we can wrap our minds or hearts around, we can make a difference.

When the World Feels Unsafe

What do you do when tragedy reminds you of the fragile state of this world?

When You Can't Get It Together

“I began to tell Him what he already knew: I can’t do it. I can’t make sure everybody likes me. I can’t stop eating sugar. I can’t focus in my time with Him.”

Where Is Hope in an Unstable World?

At times, the problems of our world can feel overwhelming. Where do we find hope in it all?

Why I Don't Tell You About My Life

I don’t mind helping other people through hard situations, but letting them help me is hard.

Why We Struggle With Living in Freedom

We have been released from slavery yet, day after day, many of us remain slaves to ourselves, not knowing how to live freely.

Why You're Stuck in Your Faith Journey

If you’re not growing, it might be because you’re not helping someone else.

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