Blessed Father God,
On this difficult day, it comforts me to know that Your strong believing children felt “so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” (2 Cor. 1:8 ESV). Their affliction brought this on…and I’ve experienced the same.
Focusing on God’s past blessings
Turn me and every one of your “beloved in Christ” to Jesus today, as we both focus on Your past blessings. Remind us, Abba Father. In Him, we’re those who had the eyes of our hearts enlightened! (Eph. 1:18). Not only that, but we’re those for whom You’ve done this…
We “have been raised with Christ” (Col. 3:1 ESV). Past tense! What a wonder of Your grace.
I can’t even comprehend this, but Your bringing us to Christ was part of Your planned-out past!
Grace first contrived a way
To save rebellious man,
And all the steps that grace display
Which drew the wondrous plan!
(“Grace,” Doddridge, P., p. d. Sing to the tune of “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord!”)
Focusing on God’s present blessings, as we suffer today
So, in our present burdens, help us to…
“seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at Your right hand…not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:1-2 ESV).
For where is a believer’s life…actually?
This suffering fixates our minds on “things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2 ESV). Burden. Despair. Fears. Losses. So much sorrow. Turn our thoughts to Your present, ongoing saving purpose for us in Jesus:
Grace first inscribed my name
In God’s eternal book;
’Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrows took.
Focusing on God’s future blessings
It’s Your current blessing as we suffer, to set our hope where it belongs! It’s a sure hope for our future, because You’ve mysteriously already done it! Therefore, we can cling to Your promises for our future!
When Jesus, who is our life, appears, then we…
“also will appear with him in glory” Col. 3:4 ESV)!
When we’re both tempted to despair of life itself, when we wonder how we can keep going like this, fix each of Your beloved in Christ on every future blessing to come. For in these promises, You’re blessing us in turning TO Jesus, AS we suffer…by, through, in, and with Your grace.
Grace taught my soul to pray,
And pardoning love to know;
’Twas grace that kept me to this day,
And will not let me go.
Grace all the work shall crown,
Through everlasting days;
It lays in heaven the topmost stone,
And well deserves the praise.
Thank you, precious Lord. In the gracious name of Jesus, amen.
Material adapted from Praying God’s Blessings in Christ as We Suffer: Scripture Prayers for the Hardest Days, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2026
A Christian music playlist gift…to help us focus on God’s past, present, and future blessings as we suffer today
This week’s playlist gift came forth as His gift on a day I felt utterly burdened beyond my strength. It was in itself His grace. I’m praying it helps you too, sister in Christ.
If you’re walking through suffering as I am, sign up below and I’ll send weekly Scriptural playlist gifts to your email. Glory to our Lord for the “means of grace” He gives to us to help us endure suffering with hope in Christ!
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