Downsizing fifteen minutes at a time this summer, going through bins and boxes of artifacts and mementos saved from childhood, I saw progressions of meaning in what I valued most.
What I “worshipped.” So many idols.
Yet I also see that God was loving me, drawing me to Himself before I trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, as a teen. I see He’s loved me by helping me gradually release many of those idols… through so much earthly suffering as an adult.
God loved me…by immersing me in simultaneously studying the prophets and minor prophets, teaching His people about how to live in a culture of idol-worshippers. Re-seeing my lingering idolatries and asking Him to keep revealing and shattering them.
What happens as we live in “Babylon” and trust in this world’s idols?
We’re miserable. Despair. We feel “unloved.” We focus on ourselves and earthly things. Exhaustion. Trying to control. Fix. Running from God’s love instead of toward His love.
What use is an idol…a teacher of lies? (Hab. 2:18 BSB)
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.
(“Before the Throne of God Above,” Smith, C. L., p.d.)
Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion (Jonah 2:8 BSB).
No wonder our Lord of loving devotion has told us how to live in His love, knowing He created us to worship and love Him. What love that He sent Jesus, the only One who ever lived idol-free in this fallen world of idolatries.
You shall have no other gods before Me (Ex. 20:3 BSB).
Show me my idols, Lord of love!
“I’m afraid of losing ___________”
“I’ll be happy if ______________”
“I think about this constantly_____________”
“A ‘good day’ is defined by ____________”
“I don’t want to live without ____________”
“I’m upset when _________ happens”
“I wish I had___________”
“I judge others for___________”
“My life has meaning and worth because _________”
For its maker trusts in his own creation (Hab. 2:18 BSB).
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea:
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me!
Shatter my idols and free me from despair and turmoil, Lord of love!
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen (Rom. 1:25 BSB).
I will also cut off the carved images and sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your own hands (Mic. 5:13 BSB).
My name is graven on HIS hands,
My name is written on HIS heart.
I know that while in Heav’n he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart!
Help me see Your protection and provision of love and grace in suffering’s idol-shattering, drawing me close in Your love for me in Christ
Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly (Hos. 2:14 BSB).
Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her path with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so she cannot find her way (Hos. 2:6 BSB).
There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor (trouble) into a gateway of hope (Hos. 2:15 BSB).
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God the just is satisfied
To look on him and pardon me!
Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plague” (Rev. 18:2, 4 BSB).
“The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is by the power of a new affection. We know of no other way by which to keep the love of the world out of our hearts than to keep our hearts in the love of God” (Thomas Chalmers).
Lord of love, focus me on Your covenant love for me as the bride of Christ, so I’ll stop caring about those idols, as I wait for Your return and restoration in the new heaven and earth!
For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind (Is. 65:17 BSB).
Behold him there, the risen Lamb,
My perfect, spotless righteousness!
So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD.
As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth (Hos. 6:3 BSB)!
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace!
One with himself I cannot die;
My soul is purchased by his blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God!
The LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor (Is. 60:19 BSB).
With Christ, my Savior and my God!
Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever;
they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands,
so that I may be glorified (Is. 60:21 BSB).
With Christ, my Savior and my God!
In His glorious and righteous name, amen and amen.
A worship music playlist gift to remind our hearts of our hope in Christ, before the throne of God above, our richest gain!
Through tears of His healing and cleansing repentance, when my despair rose as a clue that more of my “health” idol needed further shattering, our Lord tenderly drew me close in His love for me in Christ once again.
This week’s playlist gift came from that precious time of intimacy with our Lord, adoration, and praise for His glorious gospel gift to us in Christ.
Sister in Christ, if this hope from our Lord of love is something your heart needs as you suffer too, sign up below, and it will come to your email, encouragement as we both seek to love and glorify only Him.
To read more of Lauri’s writing, you can use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Blessings in Christ as We Suffer: Scripture Prayers for the Hardest Days, Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character as We Suffer, or Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering. In the Valleys of God’s Love is written for children aged 3-8, a perfect read for grandparents, parents, and children to share together, preparing them for suffering to come.
For Scripture devotionals, calming hymns, lots of playlist gifts and encouragement from Lauri, click here for YouTube channel
For those with chronic illness and pain, here’s a calming place for us to rest in our Lord of love
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