Sometimes, we just want the suffering to end. We just want it to be over so we can “live” again. But when it’s ongoing, chronic…we need God’s help…
to “dwell”…within it, with His peace.
Sometimes, we try to run from it. We stuff it, pretend it’s not there, put on a fake smile. “I’m fine.” We hide it from ourselves and others. We hide it from God with plastic prayers or prayerlessness. We do everything we can to distract or divert ourselves with something that might deafen the pain.
We try to escape by imagining it as a temporary waiting period and loudly declaring that it will disappear soon.
Other times? We can shout at the opposite end of the spectrum. We broadcast our suffering everywhere, splashing every detail of our suffering onto others, fixating on it in our thoughts to the point where suffering escalates beyond everything else in life. Loud. Chaos.
Escaping from life abundant to life suffering.
Beloved in Christ, are we both being tempted to control the suffering with escape? Do you feel stuck on a screaming loud volume setting? The opposite of our Lord’s quieting peace?
I have, and He’s wisely had me make some changes.
The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing (Zeph. 3:17 ESV).
Escape suffering or dwell in God’s wonderful peace within it?
God has been tenderly teaching me that His best way for me to deal with ongoing suffering is not to seek escape, but to dwell in His love and peace…within it.
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
(“Wonderful Peace,” Cornell, W. D., 1888)
What will intentionally help me to dwell with Him, abiding in His love, for me in Christ? What specifically will help me to dwell in God’s wonderful peace as I suffer? This is how He is caring for me, physically, cognitively, emotionally, and spiritually.
Beloved in Christ, He knows what we need, better than we do!
God’s wonderful peace in the hope of the gospel
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul;
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll.
It’s so secure that our hope is a soft, cushioning cocoon. Christ’s righteousness now our own. Forever forgiven of every bit of our sin. Eternal life forever with Him, in union with Jesus now. A soul held safe, in reconciled peace with a holy God, a complete gift from our Father, in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Comfort and rest in knowing He is in total control, such peace
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control…
He is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me,
and many such things are in his mind (Job 23:13-14 ESV).
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
Now His glory is flooding my soul.
Producing a real smile of hope as I suffer, when I imagine seeing Jesus!
And I know when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Author of peace I shall see…
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things (Phil. 4:8 CSB, emphasis added).
That one of the anthems the ransomed will sing,
In that heavenly kingdom shall be:
God’s wonderful peace, in His care and comfort as I suffer tribulations
O soul, are you here without comfort or rest,
Walking down the rough pathway of time?
Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah (Ps. 61:4 ESV).
Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept this sweet peace so sublime!
A playlist gift to help us dwell in God’s wonderful peace, abiding in His refuging love for us in Christ
As a retired music therapist, knowing how God designed our bodies to respond to music’s inherent dimensions, He is actively keeping me in His wonderful peace with music that sings truths of His Word. Often, it’s literal Scripture.
Sister in Christ, I’m making weekly playlists for my ongoing suffering, and it’s a joy to share them with you. This week’s gift is an intentionally calming one for our bodies and brains, using the aspects of the music itself as we worship our Lord with His truth. If this would bless you, sign up here, and it will come to your email with my love and prayers.
Other resources of our ministry are below, with love:
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
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