Lord, Job’s words match my sighs, my groans, my losses.
My sighing comes instead of my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water. For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me (Job 3:24-25 ESV).
I’m slogging through today, Father. Things seem to be worsening. I can’t sleep well. I’m exhausted. Overwhelmed. Please turn me around to You, for I have nowhere else to turn.
Looking to the deep, deep love of Jesus
Things feel impossible, but You, Lord, are a shield about me. You are protecting me today, in ways I don’t even know or see. I’m safe…in Christ. You deeply love me, in this hour of suffering…and all the way to eternity.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,
rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me.
(“O THE DEEP, DEEP LOVE OF JESUS,” FRANCIS, S. T., C. 1890)
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of my faith
You, Lord, are the lifter of my head. I’m too weak to lift it myself. So I’m looking to You now as I rest in Your safe and strong hand, the hand that is upholding the entire universe. My resurrected Savior and my God, keep my gaze on Your glorious and finished work of love on the cross for me. Thank You for praying for me from Your throne today, Jesus.
[Jesus Christ] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3 ESV).
He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25 ESV).
How he watches o’er his loved ones,
died to call them all his own;
how for them he intercedeth,
watcheth o’er them from the throne.
Looking to the love of Jesus as I sleep
Lord, please bring peace to my thoughts. I lie down…but it’s hard to sleep. When I lie awake, please turn my thoughts to Your love shown to me on the cross. At night, please help me to simply rest there. No matter what happens in my weariness, You alone make me dwell in Your love, giving me safety as Your saved and loved daughter.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Love of ev’ry love the best:
’tis an ocean vast of blessing,
’tis a haven sweet of rest.
Exulting in Jesus
My Jesus, I love Thee.
You are my refuge, my strength.
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you (Psalm 5:11 ESV).
Lord, You are sustaining the faith that You graciously give me. Help me to hold tight to Your shield of faith when the flaming darts of the evil one attack my thoughts and make me doubt You.
No!
With my song, I will give thanks to You, exulting in and trusting in Your deep love for me. By Your grace, I am Yours! This is my protection, my refuge, my safety.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song will I give thanks to him (Psalm 28:7 ESV).
Underneath me, all around me,
is the current of thy love;
leading onward, leading homeward,
to thy glorious rest above.
Please lift my head to the cross continually today and all night long. Direct my heart to Your steadfast love for me in Jesus Christ.
In Him, my heart trusts…
and to Him, my heart sings…
until I am home with Him. Thank You, Lord.
In the name of deep, deep love itself, Jesus Christ, my Savior, amen.
Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, Copyright © 2022
Resources to encourage us
In deep suffering, looking to the deep, deep love of Jesus can feel so difficult. Sometimes, our minds and bodies struggle with reading God’s Word. Sometimes, suffering brings physical and emotional isolation and we need sisters in Christ who understand and can walk alongside us, “couraging into” us. Pointing us to Jesus and what is true of Him.
Perhaps the resources below, infused with Scripture and songs that sing of the “deep, deep love of Jesus” will help. I’m a sister in Christ who knows and understands…because I’ve been there for years of suffering. By God’s healing mercy, I can now offer gifts of music therapy-inspired tools and Scriptural music to walk with you, dear sister. I can pray for you. This is my prayer for each of us.
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ (2 Thess. 3:5 ESV).
For weekly prayer and playlist of Scriptural songs to sing, sign up here:
To hear Scripture with calming hymn playing, click here for YouTube podcast.
Devotional Bible study prayer journals, available on Amazon. Just click pictures.
