For this musician who thinks and breathes in music, being unable to make music to our Lord was a heartbreaking loss. Overwhelming grief. For months, I was so sick as the resonating chambers in my head filled with pressure from my sagging brain and herniated brainstem, that I couldn’t sing at all without severe pain and tanking blood pressure into semi-consciousness.
Our Savior came so near to me, into my pain and tears, amidst this loss.
When our losses overwhelm us, when we live with ongoing suffering, when we physically can’t sing, or emotionally struggle to sing, how can we still praise God?
For over thirty years of chronic illness and pain, I now realize He has protected me from bitterness or hardening to His voice of love, through the process of lament.
I call that process a “praise interruption,” or praise interrupting our suffering, as part of our honest prayer of Biblical lament.
My praise interruptions continue daily, three months after God’s lifesaving brain surgery, with the typical ups and downs of the healing process and my heavy heart over so much and so many. Honestly talking with the One who intimately loves us becomes so essential when we undergo long-term suffering. I’m so thankful He knows that…and gives us His own songbook, the same one Jesus used.
Let’s come to our Savior together, sister in Christ, with a “praise interruption.”
Lord Jesus, I’m sad and grieved by loss
You experienced loss and grief continually in Your earthly life. You wept, lamented much, and brought it all to our Father. You didn’t stuff it but spoke it as You grieved.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! (Mt. 23:37 ESV)
O Savior, precious Savior,
whom yet unseen we love,
O name of might and favor,
all other names above;
we worship you, we bless you,
to you alone we sing;
we praise you, and confess you
our holy Lord and King.
(“Oh Savior, Precious Savior,” Havergal, F. R., 1870)
Lord Jesus, remind me who You are, into my pain and tears
In you all fullness dwelling,
all grace and power outpours:
the glory all-excelling,
O Son of God, is yours;
we worship you, we bless you,
to you alone we sing;
we praise you, and confess you
our glorious Lord and King.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Pet. 1:8-9 ESV).
Lord Jesus, remind me of Your ongoing gift of salvation, into my pain and tears
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me (Ps. 18:3-5 ESV).
O bringer of salvation,
who wondrously has wrought,
yourself the revelation
of love beyond our thought;
we worship you, we bless you,
to you alone we sing;
we praise you, and confess you
our gracious Lord and King.
Hallelujah! You opened my eyes, so that I turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that I now have received forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in You, Lord Jesus! (Acts 26:18 ESV)
Lord Jesus, even if my song is quiet, help me cling to Your Word’s truth, through praise interruptions as I suffer
In You, my “precious Savior Whom yet unseen I love,” I have redemption through Your blood, the forgiveness of my trespasses, according to the riches of the grace of our God and Father, which He lavished on me (Eph. 1:7).
So, into any pain and tears I experience, help me to deeply know “what is the hope to which our Father of glory has called” me:
What are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,
according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:18-20 ESV).
O grant the consummation
of this our song above
in endless adoration
and everlasting love;
then shall we praise and bless you
where perfect praises ring,
and evermore confess you
our Savior and our King.
And because You live? I can face tomorrow. You will help me face whatever happens today and tomorrow, until the glorious day I see You. In Your great name of everlasting love and ongoing grace as I suffer, my alive and exalted Savior and King, Jesus Christ, amen.
A playlist of praise interruptions
Sweet sisters in Christ, no matter what voice we have, no matter how broken, let’s sing (even just in our heads or as a whisper) as we come to Him in our honest agony. He meets us right there, through God’s Word, in such love and grace-filled comfort. By the work of the Holy Spirit within us, He gives us songs that become literal “praise interruptions” as part of our lament, into our tears and fears.
My heart continues to need this daily, for the suffering of this sin-full world continues to press hard, my body is not free from chronic pain, and I’m still healing from the recent trauma.
So, I’ve professionally curated a playlist to honestly lament as we sing-pray, while praising Jesus for who He is and what He’s done for us. I pray that God will use all the songs (many of them actual Scripture) to lift our hearts to Himself in love, even helping us to feel better, as His healing gift.
If it would bless you to sing to our Savior along with me, into your pain and tears, sign up below and it will come to your email. If you’re new here, you can also find other “praise interruption” resources below, for suffering Christian women.
