I am suffering, but Jesus is my hope

Lord, I come to You in my suffering today, fighting the lie that believers don’t need to experience suffering on earth. When we “writhe in pain” daily (Job 15:20), this lie easily tempts us to discouragement, bitterness, and despair. Job fought this lie. But You tenderly tell Your suffering and beloved children what is true.

This is indeed a temptation when trials feel like unending fire. Father, please turn me to Jesus today, who suffered on earth too and died…all for me. 

I am suffering, but as a child of God, in Jesus Christ

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16 ESV).

The joy of all who dwell above,
the joy of all below;
to whom he manifests his love,
and grants his name to know.

(“The Head That Once Was Crowned With Thorns,” Kelly, T., 1820)

Holy Spirit, please remind me of gospel truths today. Help me know I am unified with Christ, completely loved with Christ, as I suffer with Christ. For this is indeed my joy!

Please remind me of my guaranteed inheritance, to live with Jesus today, tomorrow, and forever! Oh, what a gift of Your grace, Your unceasing love, and sure hope as I suffer.

To them the cross, with all its shame,
with all its grace, is giv’n;
their name an everlasting name,
their joy the joy of heav’n.

I am suffering, but Jesus suffered all, for me

Jesus, You suffered throughout Your earthly life, sinlessly enduring sufferings far worse than Job.

Or me. 

You were tempted like I am and victoriously walked through suffering, all the way to the cross.

🎶 Jesus, keep me near the cross! 🎶

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps (1 Pet. 2:21 ESV). 

Jesus, I praise You for willingly taking all my inborn sin nature upon Yourself. God, by Your great grace, You’ve gifted a new life to me, making this unrighteous sinner a rescued and transformed new creation, clothed in Your righteousness! I now have Your empathetic comfort, with Your empowering Holy Spirit to help me follow in Your steps as I suffer.

I am suffering, but I share Jesus’ sufferings

They suffer with their Lord below,
they reign with him above;
their profit and their joy to know
the myst’ry of his love.

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him (2 Tim. 2:11-12 ESV).

My reigning Lord and Savior, it is mysterious. But Jesus, every day I suffer, I’m living with You, even as You sit on Your heavenly throne right now.

The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty Victor’s brow.

I can’t fully understand it, but sharing in Your suffering now? This specifically will produce unfathomable rejoicing when I’m glorified with You! And right now? I’m being conformed to Your image, beloved Jesus, through this suffering time. So I praise You, my glorious and victorious King!

The highest place that heav’n affords
is his, is his by right,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
and heav’n’s eternal Light.

I am suffering, but Jesus, I rejoice that You are my hope and strength today

Precious Lord, You tell us that it is…

through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22 ESV). 

So, You alone are my strength, my hope, my faithful and saving King. It’s just too hard without Your help. Please strengthen my soul today, encourage my weary heart, help me to stand firm as I turn to You, trust You, and release all the emotional weight to You, just as You did when You walked this earth.

The cross he bore is life and health,
though shame and death to him;
his people’s hope, his people’s wealth,
their everlasting theme.

Jesus, help me to rejoice that I share in Your suffering. For I look with great hope to the day when Your glory is revealed and all sin and suffering will be forever gone. As with Job, this is the hope of all suffering believers, and I rest here in today’s pain. In the name of my joy and my all, Jesus Christ, amen.

Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, Copyright © 2022

Resources for my suffering sisters in Christ

I’m battling lies as I suffer once again, perhaps just as you are, sister in Christ. But this is His victory in our earthly suffering as believers! It is all by the Holy Spirit’s gracious work in us, helping us to trust Him and battle to the end…as Jesus did, with God’s Word.

For me, singing praise to the Lord, particularly singing Scripture itself as I suffer, is one of His most powerful and necessary tools for enduring suffering. God’s Word is true, so let’s sing it! I’ve made a playlist of sung Bible verses this week to do exactly this and pray any of the resources below will help you trust our glorious Savior as well!