I’ve been sharing some of my testimony on YouTube recently. Like a cancer survivor, I’ve been in a season of reflection in the last year, now that our Lord has spared my earthly life once again.
Being a musician, I look back and liken it more to a sonata than a story! After the Exposition section, which culminated in God’s providential gift of a healing first brain surgery, the Development section was a long one, spanning over twenty years!
I was able to raise our children, see them marry and start families, support my husband and take care of the house, and work as a music educator and church musician. Hallelujah to our Healer! I still dealt with up and down chronic pain and had a collection of chronic illnesses, but I could function again.
He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
(“He Giveth More Grace,” Flint, A., 1866-1932)
In a sonata, the Development section features a variety of theme fragments that carry through the entire piece, emerging and receding, morphing and changing in creative ways.
He giveth more grace applied to our suffering, the theme of our song
The gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the theme fragments that carried me through the more manageable years of the Development section God had planned for me between two lifesaving surgeries.
How does His gospel of grace apply to our daily lives?
Sin and despair like the sea waves cold,
threaten the soul with infinite loss;
grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
points to the Refuge, the mighty cross.
(“Grace that is greater than all our sin,” Johnston, J. H., 1910)
How does the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ have personal relevance to our times of suffering and stress as we live in this fallen world’s tribulations?
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
For me, when I was finally able to re-enter a more normal life than one bedridden and in and out of hospitals, I realized He had just walked me through a tremendous crisis of faith that held a lot of questions.
My hardest question was much like Job’s, “If I’m suffering, am I His?” His answer? Grace!
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8 ESV).
Learning so much more, now easier to read God’s Word without continual medical crises, God’s sanctifying grace was now being applied in new ways. He giveth more grace!
He giveth more grace applied to our relationships, the theme of our song
My fears required daily gospel understanding, but I still needed it when re-entry into many relationships required His gift of ongoing, sanctifying grace. Many days, I didn’t feel worthy of being loved by God, because it was difficult to love others when my body still hurt all the time. I realized my sin more and more, but praise God for His sanctifying grace!
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Heb. 10:14 ESV, emphasis added).
God carried me with the songs that sing the gospel truth! Like these lyrics about Jesus!
He left his Father’s throne above
(so free, so infinite his grace!),
humbled himself (so great his love!)
and bled for all his chosen race!
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for, O my God, it found out me!
(“And Can It Be,” Wesley, C., 1738)
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18 ESV, emphasis added)!
The gospel of Jesus Christ applied, as God giveth more grace, sanctifying and transforming us to be more Christ-like, all for His glory!
God so lovingly reminded me that I was made for HIS glory, to magnify Jesus’ worth and not my own. So, OF COURSE I needed His gracious help as a saved sinner, for He was still conforming me to the image of my beloved Savior (Rom. 8:29)! That’s the point!
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life (Rom. 6:22 ESV, emphasis added)!
And His work of grace and love continues. It’s ongoing, for both of us, in this very suffering and tribulation we’re living with today.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
Amazing, sanctifying grace upon grace, until the day we see the Lord Jesus, the theme of our song!
I know you know this song – let’s sing it together. If you belong to Jesus, this is our song, beloved sister in Christ. If you’d like a playlist gift to sing of His sanctifying grace into your suffering, sign up below, and let’s sing praise and thanksgiving to our God of every grace…until the day we see Him!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
his Word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.
(“Amazing Grace,” Newton, J., 1779)
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 channel
