Are you tired too? I’m weary of ongoing physical suffering and incessant problems and losses in this fallen world. It easily threatens to take over my emotions and thoughts. A deeper weariness of sin’s temptations to bring me down. Lately, I’m desperate to take refuge in my union with Jesus.
God has recently had me pondering all the weariness our sinless Savior humbled Himself to endure for us. His poverty and homelessness. His physical and emotional pain. Fatigue. Grief. His endurance of constant hatred, trauma, abuse, slander, hurt, misunderstanding, injustice, abandonment of His loved ones, even betrayal by Judas. Temptation to sin amid this world’s sufferings.
Jesus knew it would all happen, and still, He constantly submitted to the will of our Father who sent Him.
The most horrific of all? Having lived a completely sinless life, He was left utterly alone by our Father as He took away our punishment for sin on the brutal cross.
So that we would never be alone in our earthly suffering or struggle with sin.
Those who are in Christ Jesus are in…God’s refuge of the weary.
I’ve been asking Jesus to help me live His way, in my weariness. Watching how Jesus managed life, especially as things worsened the closer He got to the cross, He’s carried me into His “refuging” care. Jesus has taken me into the gospels,
remembering the songs He sang into His own weariness…the Psalms.
Remember that I’m in Christ Jesus, refuge of the weary
Jesus, refuge of the weary,
blest Redeemer, whom we love,
fountain in life’s desert dreary,
Savior from the world above…
(“Jesus, Refuge of the Weary,” Savonarola, G., trans. Lady J. F. Wilde, 1853)
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you (Ps. 5:11 ESV).
Remember why I’m still here, with God’s kingdom purpose
Often have your eyes, offended,
gazed upon the sinner’s fall…
See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction! (Ps. 52:7 ESV)
yet, upon the cross extended,
you endured the pain of all.
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works (Ps. 73:28 ESV).
This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Mt. 14:14 ESV).
Remember what He did for me, coming to the cross of Jesus, a refuge of the weary when the tempter attacks
Dare we pass that cross unheeding,
breathing no repentant vow,
as we see you wounded, bleeding,
see your thorn-encircled brow?
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by (Ps. 57:1 ESV)…
for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy (Ps. 61:3 ESV)…
be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress (Ps. 71:3 ESV).
Remember my hope for what is coming
Since your sinless death has brought us
life eternal, peace, and rest…
From now on, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven (Mt. 26:64 ESV).
only what your grace has taught us
calms the sinner’s deep distress.
Rest in the abiding love and strong protection of my Lord Jesus, refuge of the weary
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God (Ps. 62:7 ESV)!
Jesus, may our hearts be burning
with more fervent love for you!
May our eyes be ever turning
to behold your cross anew…
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1 ESV).
till in glory, parted never
from the blessed Savior’s side,
graven in our hearts forever,
dwell the cross, the Crucified!
A playlist gift to refuge in our Lord Jesus, to remember and behold the cross anew
Perhaps it is singing of the cross of Jesus that we might find our greatest love, praise, and adoration expressed to our Suffering Servant, for it’s there that our suffering hearts meet His suffering heart…for us. I can’t get this quote out of my thoughts: “It was by his death that he wished above all else to be remembered.”[1]
As many behold the cross anew in this season, I’m taking refuge there. For it is in Jesus’ death in my place that I can now rejoice that I am in Him, now able to run to Him with every sin, every concern, every weariness of life in this broken world. Remembering all He has done, is doing, and will do is His refuge and strength when I’m so very weary.
This week’s playlist gift is one to help us both come to Jesus, refuge of the weary. If this would bless you in your weariness too, sign up here, and it will come to your email with love from this sister in Christ who is also beyond exhausted…and is being held up inside our refuge, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Other resources of our ministry are below, for suffering Christian women
For Scripture devotionals, calming hymns, and encouragement from Lauri, click here for YouTube podcast
For music therapy-inspired Scripture and hymn podcast to ease chronic illness and pain symptoms, click here
Devotional Bible study prayer journals, available on Amazon. Click for details.
Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering
Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering
Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in Our Suffering
[1] Stott, J. (1986). The cross of Christ. IVP, p. 86.
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