God leads His dear children along, all the way through

As my brain’s slumping out of the skull worsened with its body-systemic symptoms last fall, our Good Shepherd Jesus Christ came so near with His love songs, ones filled with praise and adoration to Him. Although I could rarely physically read my Bible, I heard His tender voice of comforting and powerful Scriptures, keeping my soul safe in the valley of the shadow of death. He continually reminded me that, for His sheep, that valley will lead us home with Him forever. 

The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice (Jn. 10:3-4 CSB).

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,

God leads His dear children along.

(“God Leads Us Along,” Young, G. A., 1903)

I don’t remember much about last fall, but I remember bits of special moments with others, many happening at our family’s most cherished place on earth. With the help of compassionate airline caregivers, my husband brought me to our “happy place,” our adult daughters gathering, all together before my brain surgery.

Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,

God leads His dear children along.

God leads His dear children to those who understand

Suffering can feel so lonely. Most people don’t understand what we’re experiencing, because they haven’t gone through it or even seen it firsthand in another loved one. They’re uncomfortable being around us. They don’t know what to say or how to act.

In God’s beautiful plan and providence, friends from years ago…

were there too! For a few short hours! And those particular friends?

Each one had firsthand experience with life-threatening brain illness, needed surgeries, its symptoms, and every physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual need. My widowed friend lives with her husband’s home-going to live with Jesus, forever healed of his brain’s illness. 

Our friends cared for me and my husband, with empathy and love that can only be born out of “knowing.” They spoke softly and slowly, touched my burning body lightly, helped me know they were there, and profoundly encouraged us with their presence and words.  

God leads us through suffering to comfort others

This is what the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go (Is. 48:17 CSB).

How could suffering possibly be anything that is “for your benefit?” How could it possibly be a “way you should go?” His Word gives us many reasons, but I’ve now experienced how His leading others through suffering…became their ability to fulfill His profound purpose:

Some thru the waters, some thru the flood,

Some thru the fire, but all thru the blood…

Jesus leads us through the way He personally walked

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,

God leads His dear children along;

What was our Father’s way for His dear child…

Jesus, our Redeemer?

How did Jesus Himself “learn obedience” (Heb. 5:8) when He humbled Himself in taking on human likeness? (Phil. 2:8) What was our Father’s best way, the way of His redemptive love for us on the cross?

Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,

God leads His dear children along.

What was God’s way of redeeming every bit of the pain of earthly suffering, in love for Christ’s beloved bride…who also must walk through pain and affliction?

Tho’ sorrows befall us and Satan oppose,

God leads His dear children along;

Our elder brother and Good Shepherd Jesus is leading us as God’s beloved and redeemed children, with His conquering, victorious, and always-sufficient grace, within us by His Spirit. He keeps us going, holds us up, and comforts us with His Word, His songs, and others in His body who’ve been where we are. 

Thru grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,

God leads His dear children along.

And in this, for each of us? Our risen and conquering Lord is leading us in His resurrected “alive in Christ” newness of life! What redemptive purpose…in our suffering. 

I pray our friends were encouraged that day, too, looking back on what He had done in them. 

Jesus leads His dear children along, pointing us homeward, as we suffer 

I do remember my strongest encouragement from that conversation. It was not that He would heal me on earth. We all knew He might not, for He obviously doesn’t always. But we all celebrated that every day on earth is His great gift, a life-changing reality if He chooses to leave us here.

Some thru great sorrow, but God gives a song,

In the night season, and all the day long.

Until the day He leads us to glory, glorified with Christ (Rom. 8:17), I know He is leading you and me all the way through…

so we might comfort others,

just as our friends brought comfort to us.

Take heart, dear sister in Christ. 

Away up in glory, eternity’s day,

God leads His dear children along.

A playlist to help us sing to Jesus who leads us all the way through

Singing TO Jesus as I suffer helps my pain, in every way. I’ve made a worship music playlist to sing-pray into this week’s pain, sorrows, and fears. If it would also bless you to sing to our Lord, sign up here and my weekly playlist gifts will come to your email. Other resources are below, if you are new to our ministry. Praying it will encourage you in this time of suffering in our fallen world, sister in Christ. 

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