Jesus,
As we suffer, ebbs and waves of tumult threaten to drown us. Noisy uproar. Words of online and media crowds that confuse our thoughts. Expectations pulling us under. Changes and unrest that seek to rob us of Your peace and joy.
It all aims to tug us away from hearing Your voice, Your Word, personalized for our suffering circumstances. Help us to hear Your tender call today, for You alone know what our hearts need most.
Jesus calls us: o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild, restless sea,
day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
saying, “Christian, follow me.”
(“Jesus Calls Us, O’er the Tumult,” Alexander, C. F., 1852)
Jesus calls us as those who ARE His called ones
As, of old, apostles heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred,
leaving all for his dear sake.
We remember Your calling us to Yourself! What a blessing You’ve given to us, to have become “those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ” (Jd. 1:1 BSB). What a gift that we’re now those who “are called to belong to Jesus Christ, loved by God and called to be saints” (Rom. 1:6-7 BSB).
Your “gifts and His call are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:29 BSB)! Hallelujah! We’ve been called to “one body…one Spirit…one hope” (Eph. 4:4 BSB)!
Oh Lord, help each of us to “let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts, for to this [we] were called as members of one body” (Col. 3:15 BSB). Because You’ve already…
Thank You for this amazing gift of love You’ve given to us!
Jesus calls us to come to Him
I wonder if other sisters in Christ have natural personalities like mine. Type A. Goal-driven. More like Martha than Mary. Perfectionism that always seeks mistake-free. First-born. Hard worker. Productivity at all costs. Taking care of everything and everybody. To please, to love, to serve, but also hints of feeling worthy of acceptance or love by others. By You?
Oh, the burden of this tumult.
In our suffering, circumstances often prevent our “doing” as we once could. With new physical limitations, You’ve called me away from all this heavy burden. This is not only Your call to “come to” You and take Your “yoke upon” myself “and learn from” You (Mt. 11:28-29 BSB)…
but it’s simultaneously Your call to “deny” myself and take up my “cross and follow” You (Mt. 16:24 BSB).
Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, “Christian, love me more.”
And what has been Your beautiful gift in this? Much less weary and burdened!
Yes, Your promise is so true:
Jesus, You’re calling us to abide in Your love as we suffer
God, who has called you
into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
is faithful (1 Cor. 1:9 BSB).
Oh Lord Jesus, being Your called ones, we do indeed have “encouragement in Christ…comfort from [Your] love…fellowship with the Spirit…affection and compassion” (Phil. 2:1 BSB).
Help us to abide in Your love as we suffer. To remain here constantly, resting and trusting in the “perfect love” (1 Jn. 4:18) that drove You to take our place on the cross.
When we’re tempted to move away from Your easy yoke, to take one step away from You, to listen to the noise of other voices, conform us closer to Your likeness (Rom. 8:29), especially through Your Spirit’s illumination of Your Word….
In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”
Jesus, this suffering is Your special calling right now
It’s easy to think we aren’t serving and loving you because we’re suffering. The clamorous pressure of the “noise” around us can make us think we’re not “doing” enough, shamed and guilted into something…
beyond Your calling.
Help each of us to hear Your tender voice of love toward us as we respond to Your calling and block out the noise.
What would You have for us today, specifically?
Is it simply a Mary day rather than a Martha one?
What do we need to release to Your loving care and compassionate mercy?
What steps are Your desired next ones, as we yoke to You?
Show each of us in Your Word, Lord.
Jesus calls us: by thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear thy call,
give our hearts to thine obedience,
serve and love thee
best of all.
In Your holy name of perfect love, amen.
A playlist gift to sing of our calling in Christ, as we suffer
He’s recently reminded me of His call to me as I suffer. It’s
“to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9 BSB).
How?
For me, it’s specifically through music that echoes Scripture! I can do this, even bed-bound. Anywhere, anytime. Internalizing the truths of God’s Word and pray-singing to Him is how He’s made me to love Him “best of all,” as I suffer.
If you’d like to join me, I’m professionally curating weekly playlist gifts for myself to use as I suffer; it’s a delight to simply share with my hurting sisters in Christ. Just sign up here if you’d like to respond to His love in the same way as we sing Christ’s hope together. Soli Deo Gloria.
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, lots of playlist gifts and encouragement from Lauri, click here for YouTube channel
For those with chronic illness and pain, here is a special place of Scripture, prayer, and music, just for us. Stay tuned – much more to come!
For suffering Christian women in your church, free workshops are now available
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