The enemy is such a liar and accuser when we live with suffering. Especially when it’s chronic, ongoing throughout this life. Especially in a crisis that lasts. Satan can tempt us to think that suffering means we’re “weak Christians” who don’t have “enough faith.” We easily feel shamed, judged, afraid, alone, guilty. We’re tempted to doubt God’s character and think we need to “muster up more faith” or even “prove” that we have “strong faith” to others who imply this.
Like Job’s friends did to him.
But what does God’s Word say about faith during suffering in trials of this fallen world? Just as Jesus Himself did when He was tempted by the enemy, let’s fight the enemy’s lies with His Word! Let’s interrupt our suffering with praise to God for what is true!
Our Faith is from God Himself, a treasure!
For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8 ESV).
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).
For those who are in Jesus Christ, being conformed to His image (Rom. 8:29) through His indwelling Spirit, in union with Jesus, this is His continual grace and power at work in us as we suffer!
And where is our Lord Jesus?
Oh, let’s behold Him in victory!
Praise the Savior now and ever;
praise him, all beneath the skies;
prostrate lying, suffering, dying
on the cross, a sacrifice.
Victory gaining, life obtaining,
now in glory he doth rise.
(“Praise the Savior Now and Ever,” Fortunatus, V. H. C., c. 530-609)
We’ll have a perfect, complete, strong, steadfast faith!
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that
the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (Jas. 1:2-4 ESV).
Sin’s bonds severed, we’re delivered;
Christ has bruised the serpent’s head…
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).
death no longer is the stronger;
hell itself is captive led.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Cor. 12:8-9 ESV).
Christ has risen from death’s prison;
o’er the tomb he light has shed.
Reward for steadfast faith in those who love Him
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—
and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15 CSB).
Man’s work faileth, Christ’s availeth;
he is all our righteousness;
he, our Savior, has forever
set us free from dire distress.
Through his merit we inherit
light and peace and happiness.
Praying for faith to withstand temptation
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8 ESV).
But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 5:8-9 CSB).
Lord, please give us strengthened armor of faith to believe what You say in Your Word, not the devil’s lies that tempt our thoughts as we suffer. For You are the source of all of our faith, from beginning to end! You intimately know suffering is so hard. So help us to “be transformed by the renewal of our minds” (Rom. 12:2) as we trust in the saving, sanctifying, persevering, powerful, victorious faith that You have given us by Your grace. As we endure earthly suffering. Becoming more Christlike. All the way home to glory. In the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, amen.
For his favor, praise forever
unto God the Father sing;
praise the Savior, praise him ever,
Son of God, our Lord and King.
Praise the Spirit; thro’ Christ’s merit
he doth us salvation bring.
Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2022
Singing Christ’s Hope, thanking Him for deepened faith as we suffer
Chronic or ongoing suffering is a tempting time, on so many fronts. Let’s pray-sing for deepened faith amid our suffering by clinging closely to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ when the enemy tempts us. Let’s praise God for His grace to us as His beloved in Christ!
This week’s playlist gift is for us to pray-sing, to bring our pain to our Lord, and to ask and thank Him for the “enough faith” He is powerfully providing as we suffer. I can’t get through a day of suffering without it, so sharing it with you is a delight as we fight the enemy’s lies together. If this might bless you, see below for music to pray and other resources of our ministry.
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