What is the “new commandment” from Jesus for us?
Jesus echoes 2 Kings 23:25, telling us to “turn to the LORD with all,” a holistic, embodied, interconnected turning of our affections, thoughts, and emotions. In the weary wilderness of suffering, our souls long, our emotions thirst, our bodies faint, and our minds seek God.
As His believing children, described in Ephesians 2:13 as being united with Christ, He knows a whole-being love for Him is best for us.
So, what’s one way to love Him with all our heart when we’re suffering? It’s to sing our longings and losses as we turn to Him. Just like Jesus did on earth. Think of Him singing the Psalms, too! Imagine their lyrics as His own, as He suffered throughout His earthly life, bringing His every emotion to our Father.
What a beautiful way that He designed us. Singing uniquely integrates our souls, emotions, bodies, and minds.
Anne Steele, suffering from chronic illnesses, caregiving, and multiplied grief in many loved ones’ deaths, sings her longing as she turns to our God of love, in love for Him.
Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On thee, when sorrows rise,
On thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies.
(“Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul,” Steele, A., p. d.)
Sing a love song to Jesus by bringing my longings and losses to Him
Like Anna, let’s turn to Jesus, the LORD our God, with the agony of it all, as a love song to Him into our weariness.
But O! when gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call thee mine;
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline.
How lovely is your dwelling place,
LORD of Armies.
I long and yearn
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh cry out for the living God (Ps. 84:1-2 CSB).
Loving my Lord, my God of grace
Yet, gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust…
And still my soul would cleave to thee,
Tho’ prostrate in the dust.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust” (Ps. 91:1-2 ESV).
Sing a love song to Jesus by seeking Him honestly in this suffering and singing His words of love for us, the lyrics He sang as He suffered
Hast thou not bid me seek thy face?
And shall I seek in vain?
LORD God of Armies, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Jacob. Selah
Consider our shield, God;
look on the face of your anointed one (Ps. 84:8-9 CSB).
And can the ear of sovereign grace
Be deaf when I complain?
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him” (Ps. 91:14-15 ESV).
Sing a love song to Jesus by telling Him my sorrows, being given His strength…to strength
No, still the ear of sovereign grace
Attends the mourner’s prayer…
As they pass through the Valley of Baca (Tears)
they make it a source of spring water…
O may I ever find access
To breathe my sorrows there…
even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings (Ps. 84:6 CSB).
To thee I tell each rising grief,
For thou alone canst heal…
They go from strength to strength;
each appears before God in Zion (Ps. 84:7 CSB).
Thy word can bring a sweet relief
For every pain I feel.
Sing a love song to Jesus, my mercy-seat, my Redeemer, my refuge, my helper, my beloved Savior
Thy mercy-seat is open still;
Here let my soul retreat;
With humble hope attend thy will,
And wait beneath thy feet.
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things (Ps. 107:9 ESV).
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).
This week’s playlist gift of lament “love songs,” loving Jesus by bringing our longings and losses to His refuging love for us
Weary soul, let’s come to our refuge today. Singing our honest emotional expressions to our God of unchanging love deepens our relationship with Him, at the feet of Jesus. Our suffering song then becomes one of love and being loved by our God.
Singing of His love and singing our love songs back to Him begins to shape our emotions within the suffering experience.
This week’s playlist gift is filled with lament, all love songs, the love of Jesus and our love back to Him, in our longings and losses. This has been His upholding gift to my soul, carrying me through over 30 years of chronic illness and much severe pain and grief.
Perhaps the honest songs of lament and love will be His healing gift to you too? Sign up below if this might help you, sister in Christ.
To read more of Lauri’s writing, you can use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, or 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 podcast
For those with anxiety, cancer, chronic illness, and chronic pain, here’s a music therapy-inspired podcast of hymns and God’s Word to help ease symptoms
