A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
(“A Mighty Fortress,” Luther, M., 1529)
Mortal ills and storms of life in this fallen world, raging temptations to sin, all of us desperately needing God’s help. Here’s one of the greatest of our needs…
You shall have no other gods before me (Ex. 20:3 ESV).
Oh, how often we make good gifts from God into “other gods.” We so much want a comfortable, secure, storm-free, and easy life for ourselves and our loved ones, don’t we?
As a result, we easily create many idols that drive us: work, houses and the stuff, praise from others, full bank accounts, healthy bodies, children who have no problems, and stress-free days. Our expectations have become what we consider our best lives on earth.
So, when suffering lingers like Job’s, we’re tempted to tell God He’s doing something wrong. Beloved, our pride so quickly bubbles to the surface, doesn’t it (Job 35:12; 36:9)?
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Just as with Job, the enemy tries to make us forget who God is, so that our faith might waver when suffering intensifies. We quickly think we know better than God, and we easily doubt His ways. We don’t shelter in our mighty fortress. Such a thief and foe, causing this spiritual warfare.
How has God told me what an abundant life is…and what is best?
I love the book of Job; it’s so real and relevant to me as I suffer…and pray for my suffering loved ones. Elihu helps us get to that abundant life, pointing us to Christ!
He reminds Job and us that “God is greater than man” (33:12), that He can never do anything wicked, evil, or wrong (34:10-12), that He is in charge of the entire universe and our very breath (34:13-15), that He sees and knows everything (34:21), that He is “mighty in strength of understanding” (36:5), and that “He is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate” (37:23).
This is our Father, who gave His only Son…to suffer in our place as sinners. Go back to these Job verses! How has Christ’s perfect life, substitutionary death, and glorious resurrection and reign accomplished these truths?
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
What is best for my suffering loved one? Great things that we cannot comprehend because we are not God!
So, what are some of these great, “best,” and “abundant life” things He does in a Christian when we suffer?
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Rom. 5:3-5 ESV).
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (Jas. 1:2-4 ESV).
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12 ESV).
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us!
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him!
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Phil. 3:10 ESV).
God knows what is best for my suffering loved one! Truly!
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake (Phil. 1:29 ESV).
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (1 Pet. 4:1 ESV).
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him (Jas. 1:12 ESV).
Suffering…bringing about ceasing from sin?
Conformed to the image of Jesus Himself (Rom. 8:29)?
Receiving the crown of life when the race of endurance is complete?
Oh, I want this for my suffering loved one who belongs to Jesus!
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 Jn. 3:1 ESV).
That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth!
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Rom. 8:27 ESV).
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!
Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2022
Singing to our great God, finding true hope when suffering is strong
Let’s release all the burden as we pray for loved ones sheltered in our Mighty Fortress’s salvation, dear sister in Christ! Let’s come to Him with humility, awe, reverence, and confidence as we pray for our suffering loved ones who belong to Jesus Christ and His kingdom. Let’s sing of His gospel hope, our true hope, knowing that our great God IS doing great things that we cannot comprehend in our own lives…and other lives of His beloved in Christ who are suffering.
This week’s playlist is for us to release it all to our Mighty Fortress in the intense spiritual warfare and to remember our true hope as we sing-pray. Sign up below if this might bless you.
Other resources of our ministry are below, for you or a suffering loved one
To hear Scripture devotional with calming hymn playing, click here for YouTube podcast.
To ease symptoms of chronic illness and pain, including cancer, anxiety, and depression, a podcast of only Scripture and hymns
Devotional Bible study prayer journals, available on Amazon. Click for details.
Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in Our Suffering
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