Healing beneath the cross of Jesus 

Jesus Christ,

In this holiest of weeks, focusing on what You’ve done for me, I seek healing beneath the cross of Jesus. 

I cannot relax or be calm; I have no rest, for turmoil has come (Job 3:26 CSB).

The words of Job echo mine as I suffer. But they could have been Yours, foreshadowing Your experience as the cross became Yours. As You willingly bore my sin and its deserved punishment.

So in my own suffering, I come to You as my beloved Savior and Redeemer, realizing I only endure a molecule of what You experienced. I humbly reverence You now as I turn to You, my enthroned, victorious, mighty Rock, and conquering Lord and King. 

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty Rock
within a weary land.

(“Beneath the Cross of Jesus,” Clephane, E. C., 1868)

When I’m afraid, remind me of my peace, Prince of Peace

Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1 CSB).

Jesus, You say, 

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world (Jn. 16:33 CSB).

When I’m in pain, comfort me beneath the cross of Jesus, my Comforter and Helper

Night pierces my bones, but my gnawing pains never rest (Job 30:17 CSB).

Jesus, You understand. 

Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory? (Lk. 24:26 CSB).

For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows (2 Cor. 1:5 CSB).

When I’m lonely, come alongside me, my Counselor

I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters (Job 16:2 CSB).

Jesus, as You approached Your last day on earth, You promised Your disciples a perfect Comforter and Counselor. Your promise has come true. You are always with me, in me by Your Spirit. Hallelujah!

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you (Jn. 14:16-18 CSB). 

Upon the cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me.

When I’m tempted to bitterness, turn me to Your grace and holy love for me, my High Priest

Today also my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning (Job 23:2 CSB).

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15 CSB).

But he was pierced because of our own rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities, punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds (Is. 53:5 CSB).

When I’m hopeless, remind me of my hope, my living Redeemer

Where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? (Job 17:15 CSB).

When I don’t know how I’ll keep going, help me run the race of endurance, faithful Friend

What strength do I have, that I should continue to hope? What is my future, that I should be patient? (Job 6:11 CSB)

Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2 CSB).

Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (Jas. 1:12 CSB).

When I doubt in dark days, help me trust You, resting beneath the cross of Jesus

My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good (Job 9:25 CSB).

He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light (Job 33:28 CSB).

A home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and the burden of the day.

When I fall, pick me up, my elder Brother

They are smashed to pieces from dawn to dusk; they perish forever while no one notices (Job 4:20 CSB).

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” (Rom. 8:15 CSB).

When I’m weak, be my strength, my strong Deliverer

How you have helped the powerless and delivered the arm that is weak! (Job 26:2 CSB)

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9 CSB).

I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place:
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face.

When I am overwhelmed with darkness, help me see You, my glorious Jesus

My face has grown red with weeping, and darkness covers my eyes (Job 16:16 CSB).

The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned (Mt. 4:16 CSB).

For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6 CSB).

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Eph. 5:8 CSB).

When I’m broken in sin, make me whole through the cross of Jesus.

I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted…Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know (Job 42:2-3 CSB).

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed (1 Pet. 2:24 CSB).

And from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess,
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.

When I’m tempted to worship of self, help me worship You alone in this holiest of weeks, Jesus Christ, my Lord

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21 CSB).

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship (Rom. 12:1 CSB).

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 

Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:5-11 CSB).

Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2022

A “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” Playlist for Holy Week

This week’s extended playlist gift walks us through this Holy Week with Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that help us kneel beneath the cross of Jesus, in humbled worship and gratitude for what God has done for us. As we suffer right now, we look upon the One who suffered and died for us…and is now alive!

Sister in Christ, by His Spirit’s work within us, let’s fall before Jesus in this special week as we seek His healing.

If this resource might bless you as you seek to be drawn near to Jesus, sign up and the music will come to your email to sing throughout the week, with my prayers and love.