Cowper’s lyrics resonate deeply with me. He knew chronic suffering well, experiencing much loss and grief, with lifelong severe depression, attempted suicides, and anxiety.
I’m praying that his “praise interruption” with its Scriptural truth becomes a surprising light of healing and hope from God for you today.
As with Cowper (and me!), healing can be in the middle of our suffering, not only when it ends.
If you’d like to sing the lyrics, try it to the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation.” I’ve also put a link to this lesser-known hymn in this week’s playlist gift.
Healing from God as He lightens our darkness
Sometimes a light surprises
the Christian while he sings!
(“Sometimes a light surprises,” Cowper, W., 1779)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will HAVE the light of life” (Jn. 8:12 ESV, emphasis added).
Healing from God as we reverence Him, in humbled awe of who He is
It is the Lord who rises
with healing in His wings…
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones (Prov. 3:7-9 ESV).
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! (Ps. 34:9 ESV)
But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall (Mal. 4:2 ESV).
Healing from God when we look forward to seeing Jesus Christ!
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
a season of clear shining,
to cheer it after rain.
Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13 ESV).
In the middle of our suffering, He is making us new, for we are already His new creations!
In holy contemplation,
we sweetly then pursue
the theme of God’s salvation…
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:10 ESV)
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 5:9 ESV).
and find it ever new.
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev. 21:5 ESV)!
Healing from God when we remember that He already knows the future!
Set free from present sorrow,
we cheerfully can say,
“E’en let the unknown morrow
bring with it what it may…”
Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know, and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right?” (Is. 41:26 ESV)
Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! (Jas. 4:14 CSB)
And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them (Is. 42:16 ESV).
Our Lord will bring us through each moment, with exactly what He knows we’ll need in the future!
…It can bring with it nothing,
but He will bear us through…
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah (Ps. 68:19 ESV).
Who gives the lilies clothing
will clothe His people, too;
beneath the spreading heavens
no creature but is fed;
and He who feeds the ravens
will give His children bread (Matthew 6:25-34).
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Mt. 7:11 ESV)
Though vine nor fig tree neither
their wonted fruit should bear,
though all the field should wither,
nor flocks nor herds be there (Habakkuk 3:17)…
In the middle of our suffering, He is giving us…Himself
yet God the same
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8 ESV).
abiding,
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God (1 Jn. 4:15 ESV).
His praise shall tune my voice…
for while in Him confiding…
But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! (Ps. 69:29 ESV)
I cannot but rejoice.
Yet
I will triumph in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation (Hab. 3:18 NASB).
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Rom. 15:13 ESV).
A playlist gift for the middle of our suffering
This week’s playlist gift sings these themes, even some of these exact Scriptures from God’s Word, in the middle of our suffering. For me, I’m using the playlists into my chronic illness flares, neurological rehab work, and chronic pain that’s still ramped up from my recent brain surgery. Yes, our brother in Christ is so right…sometimes His light surprises as we sing!
I’m praying our Lord will surprise you with His healing as you sing the songs! If this might bless you, as we both sing to our Lord Jesus Christ, sign up here, and weekly YouTube playlists will come to your email.
Other gifts of our ministry are below:
For Scripture devotionals, calming hymns, and encouragement from Lauri, click here for YouTube podcast
For symptoms of chronic illness and pain, a music therapy-inspired podcast with Scripture
Devotional Bible study prayer journals, available on Amazon. Click for details.
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