I know Whom I have believed, for He is able

As a choral music educator, I often chose a beautiful piece for my children’s and middle school choirs to learn. Based on what is believed to be a hidden-away Jewish child’s words, written on the wall during the Holocaust, the kids’ voices continue to sing in my thoughts, when all I can see is pain and suffering.

“I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining, and I believe in love, even when there’s no one there. And I believe in God, even when He is silent; I believe through any trial, there is always a way.” 

This song always provoked deeply profound and important discussions in my public-school classrooms, often with tears and hugs of healing as Christian students engaged with their non-Christian colleagues.

What do we believe when we see nothing but darkness?

Whose words do we believe, when our thoughts fill with lies?

Where do we turn when we wrestle with the “why” questions?

Oh, suffering tests our faith, doesn’t it? Let’s turn to the One who is not silent, and fight with His power. For He is alive and we are united with Jesus Christ! We know Him! We know Whom we have believed and HE is indeed able! Let’s sing what is true in His Word, to our own hearts, and to our great God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Son

I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me (Job 10:2 ESV).

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1 ESV).

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
to me he has made known…

(“I Know Whom I Have Believed,” Whittle, D. W., 1883)

He HAS delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:13-14 ESV, emphasis added).

nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
redeemed me for his own.

I believe in the LORD God Almighty, my Father, Who has a fruit-bearing purpose for me, like Jesus

But…”I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I’ve committed
unto him against that day.”

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you WILL bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6 ESV, emphasis added).

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him (Jn. 12:24-26 ESV).

Jesus said, “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again” (Jn. 12:24-28 ESV).

I know my loving Father is producing strong faith and deepened relationship with Him, His fruit of love, through this suffering

I know not how this saving faith
to me he did impart…

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; 

perplexed, but not driven to despair; 

persecuted, but not forsaken; 

struck down, but not destroyed; 

always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, 

so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies (2 Cor. 4:7-10 ESV).

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,

because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (Jas. 1:2-4 CSB).

nor how believing in his Word
wrought peace within my heart.

Hallelujah! Love, peace, joy, faith, all God-glorifying fruit, all His gracious gift, given to us by His power!

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

Singing what I believe, into the battles!

This week’s worship music playlist gift sings what is true, WHO we believe, into our battles with sin, battles with the lies of the enemy in darkness, battles as we walk through all manner of sufferings. We are “fighting the good fight of faith,” but with and in and through…our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ whom we love!

Based on principles of music therapy, this week’s playlist is also crafted to help me and others with physical pain…and the accompanying anxiety that can grip us when bodily pain is strong. Are you hurting too?

Sister in Christ, if it might help you to sing, “I believe” to Him, into your suffering, sign up below and it will come to your email as we sing to Him, together.