“Jesus, Lover of My Soul” in Times of Loss and Waiting

Are you walking through a time of “unanswered prayer?” Does it seem like a lifetime of waiting for something? Are you experiencing discouragement and loss?

I wrote this last week, not knowing that I would be suddenly walking in “the valley of the shadow of death” a few days later. As God now carries us in our shock and exhaustion, my little grandson is constantly humming, “Praise Him, praise Him, all you little children, God is love. God is love.” Yes darling one, He is.

Beloved in Christ, below, you will see what I wrote before death enveloped us. Do you see God’s immense love? For me and for you? As I share these words through tears, I pray this will encourage your heart as He has encouraged mine, by His Spirit’s merciful work:

Today let’s just come to Him with a “praise interruption” for His love, into all of this weighty suffering. Because, in agony of loss and waiting, we need to remember His steadfast love as we pray, don’t we?

He tells us that “God IS love” (1 Jn. 4:8, 16, emphasis mine). Yes, Jesus is indeed the “lover of my soul,” as the hymn prays.

So, when loss feels too great to bear, when sin beats us down, when waiting is long, let’s keep on praying to Him for His help and ask Him to give us comfort and hope in His love.

Jesus, lover of my soul, You are God

Jesus, when everything is so hard, I come before You praying for so much, remembering that You are God. I praise You that You’re right now sitting at the right hand of God the Father (Col. 3:1). You are “before all things, and in You, all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). Please hold me together as I fix my thoughts on Your powerful, steadfast, perfect, and enduring love today. Into this waiting, into my losses, in my own sin, I re-turn to Your love for me on the cross where You took my place. Lord, please give to me:

strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that [I] may be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:18 ESV).

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 Jn. 4:10 ESV).

Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
more than all in thee I find:
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.

(“Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” Wesley, C., 1740)

 

God’s redemption plan of love brings believers into Your glorious presence when our earthly lives end 

Just and holy is thy name;
I am all unrighteousness;

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you; and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you (Is. 54:10 ESV).

[Jesus Christ] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15 ESV).

false and full of sin I am,
thou art full of truth and grace.

God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 2:13-14 ESV).

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within.

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Col. 3:4 ESV).

So Jesus, I praise You for giving me Your continual grace and hope in my times of loss and waiting

Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.

Through [our Lord Jesus Christ] we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5:2 ESV).

In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began (Titus 1:2 ESV).

Lord Jesus, by Your grace, help me to rest and abide in Your forever-love today. Please renew my sure hope in the glorious promises for those who are in Christ, Your bride. Into each moment of discouragement, please help me to set my hope fully on the grace that will be brought to me at the revelation of Jesus Christ, when I see You as You are. Please give me Your peace as I wait for that beautiful day.

Please “spring Thou up within my heart” with praise to You, lover of my soul! Bring me to Your cross once again as I lament the losses of this fallen world of sin and the painful losses affecting me today. Please help me pray without ceasing, to wait patiently by Your strength, and to walk with hope in Your continual grace and Your always-love. I love You and I praise You, Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior and King. Amen.

Playlist of hope in Christ’s love, for times of loss and waiting

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).

Each week, I professionally curate a YouTube playlist with lyrics so that you can sing in personal worship and abide in His love for you, as you suffer. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with loss or discouragement this week, I pray that this week’s playlist will sing to your heart of your hope in Christ, as you sing to your Savior who loves you. I pray that the music will become your own prayer as He comforts you with His love. God has helped me endure my own suffering with these songs and it’s such a joy to share them with you. If you’d like to have these weekly gifts, just sign up here and I will send them to your email, beloved in Christ. 

First Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human: