How can we face a New Year? One hour at a time

I recently came to our Father with the pain of my suffering sisters in Christ as we live in this fallen world…cancer and chronic illness, depression and anxiety, financial and job pressures, loneliness and losses, death and grief, persecution, pains in motherhood and marriage, constant woundings of others…

”Oh Father, how can we all face a New Year of ongoing suffering?”

Our precious Lord tenderly reminded me in His Word…

It’ll be no different than it has been. He promises He will help us endure suffering…

one hour at a time,

yoked to Jesus.

Every hour, I need Thee.

As Christmas carols wind down, God’s promises remain, into each hour we suffer on earth.

I know we always stand and sing it at Christmas, but did you know that the “Hallelujah Chorus” isn’t the end of the traditional “Christmas” section of Handel’s Messiah? As God carries us into the New Year, let’s reflect on its hope-filled message of God’s promises with the actual lyrics from the end of Part 1 of this great work.

For me, it’s prompted the singing of “Hallelujah!” 

Rejoicing when we remember “the hour” when God justified us!

Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing! (Is. 35:5-6)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:25-26 ESV)

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved (Rom. 10:10 ESV)…

so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7 ESV).

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9 ESV).

How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Hallelujah!

Rejoicing that every believer already has peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, with His perfect righteousness imputed to us!

He is the righteous Savior, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen. (Zech. 9:10)

Therefore, since faith has justified us, we HAVE peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1 ESV, emphasis added).

Hallelujah!

Resting in our Good Shepherd’s feeding, gathering, carrying, and leading us…”one hour at a time”

He shall feed His flock like a shepherd:

and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young. (Is. 40:11)

Refreshed by the Lord Jesus Christ, “one hour at a time,” until He restores all things

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, thy King cometh unto thee! (Zech. 9:9)

But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 

that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive 

until the time

for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago (Acts 3:18-21 ESV).

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13 ESV).

Thanking God for His soul-rest gift of “one hour at a time” walking yoked to Jesus as we suffer

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered (Heb. 5:8 ESV).

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master (Mt. 10:24 ESV).

Come unto Him, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and He will give you rest.

Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart,

and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Mt. 11:28-29)

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance (Rom. 5:3 ESV).

His yoke is easy and His burden is light! (Mt. 11:30)

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).

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Rom. 15:4 ESV)…

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor. 4:17 ESV)!

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming (Mt. 24:42 ESV).

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

A New Year playlist to come to our Lord Jesus Christ, yoked to Him “one hour at a time” 

This week’s playlist helps us to honestly pray-sing our need to Him, while encouraging us with songs that echo His gospel promises of hope to our hearts. It even sings these bits of Scripture found in Messiah. Can we rejoice and rest as we take His yoke upon us? As we wait for our Lord’s return? By His grace, one hour at a time?

Praying the music will help both of us, no matter what this year brings.

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A special prayer and music therapy-inspired podcast for those of us with illnesses and pain. It’s all hymns and Scripture.

For short Christian encouragement as we suffer, here’s our YouTube channel.

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

Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering

Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering