I’ll never forget the compassionate care of the medical helper. She quietly entered my hospital room and touched my arm. “I’d like to give you a sponge bath.” After multiple nights of sweating through agonizing and intractable pain, after one of the most pain-full surgeries one can endure, her hushed words and gentle touch brought comfort, for she understood how to speak to and touch someone with severe pain.
Sponge baths are common in long hospital stays, but this one included water at the perfectly soothing temperature. The aroma of pureness and clean. Her quiet humming. Not demanding any conversation but offering simple cleansing as a calming respite.
Her compassionate care brought tears to my eyes as I realized the experience was, in reality…
the compassionate care of Jesus Christ, my Savior.
A silent praise interruption ensued, mingling my tears of anguish and joyful release into His abiding love. May this be His cleansing and compassionate care for you, even as we consider this symbolic physical cleansing of a care-giver.
Compassionate care of our Good Shepherd
He gently leads the nursing ewes (Is. 40:11 BSB).
Tender Shepherd,
Thank You for every moment of compassionate care from others, within our weakness of suffering.
Thank You for fanning the flame of our trust in You when we’re barely hanging on.
He tends His flock like a shepherd (Is. 40:11 BSB).
All Thy sheep shall come to Zion;
With them Thou wilt never part;
Beasts of prey, nor roaring lion,
None shall pluck them from Thy heart;
All Thy chosen
Cost thee wounds, and blood, and smart.
(“Seeking Christ,” Adams, J., p.d.,
Sing to the tune of “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”)
Gentle care of our Savior’s cleansing, never judging His sheep
Jesus, Shepherd of thy people,
Lead us through this desert land;
We are weak, and poor, and feeble,
Yet we trust thy mighty hand;
Great Protector!
By thy power alone we stand.
I will tend My flock and make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice (Ezek. 34:15-16 BSB).
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you (Jn. 15:3 CSB).
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God,
purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God (Heb. 9:14 BSB)…that according to the riches of his glory
he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being (Eph. 3:16 ESV)!
Compassionate care of Jesus in His loving presence as we suffer
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Ps. 147:3)…
so that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know
the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:17-19 ESV).
In thy bosom safely lodgèd,
Thine shall rest from danger free;
They shall never more be judgèd,
Nor shall condemnation see…
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love (Jn. 15:9 ESV).
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1 BSB).
Blessed Jesus,
Let us thus
rejoice in Thee.
Amen and amen.
A playlist gift to sing of the compassionate care of Jesus, as we suffer
Sister in Christ, are you hurting in some way? Do you ache to know His compassionate care amid your suffering right now? I know of no better way than to come to Jesus and ask Him to fill our thoughts and hearts with His cleansing love, helping us to rest in His continual presence with us, as His beloved sheep.
Singing aloud to God best eases our physical and emotional pain, but even letting the songs of Scriptural truth wash over us is His gift of compassionate care.
If weekly worship music playlist gifts would be His compassionate care for you, as one who has been cleansed by Christ’s atoning death, I’ve professionally crafted one just for us as we both suffer. Sign up here, and they will arrive in your inbox with my compassionate care as someone who understands.
To read more of Lauri’s writing, you can use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Blessings in Christ as We Suffer: Scripture Prayers for the Hardest Days, Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character as We Suffer, or Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering. In the Valleys of God’s Love is written for children aged 3-8, a perfect read for grandparents, parents, and children to share together, preparing them for suffering to come.
For Scripture devotionals, calming hymns, and encouragement from Lauri, click here for YouTube channel
For suffering Christian women in your church, free workshops are now available
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