Near to the heart of God as we suffer

Suddenly bedridden at the end of April. Brain surgery complications. Flat. Staring at the ceiling. Light and sound excruciatingly painful. Could be days, weeks, chronic. Causing the brain to slump. 

Had cerebrospinal fluid leaking been the root of my underlying chronic illnesses over the last 36 years? Only God could ever know. That moment, my great Physician knew I needed to lie flat with total rest instead of trying to do anything upright.

I cried out to Him in lament. My body had to lie flat, but I was not at rest. I was not content. I knew it might become a cascade of more surgeries, ongoing pain, and forever isolation.

I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes (Job 3:26 ESV).

Begging Him for help to be content and at rest with it all, the song came, and our Lord quieted me with His love once again (Zeph. 3:17).

There is a place of quiet rest
Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.

(“Near to the Heart of God,” McAfee, C. B., 1901)

Lie: If I’m suffering, I can’t experience anything positive.

Truth: By His Spirit’s filling, God promises to give us so much good as we suffer.

I’d written these comforting words in Singing the Gospel to Job several years ago, prior to the crushing agony of my brain sagging out of my skull. He again comforted me into contented rest, by using His living and active Word I’d shared before, in these days when I couldn’t read. What a kind God we have! The words took on a whole new meaning:

Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds (Ps. 149:5 ESV).

Now that I’m upright again, with a healed leak (praise God!), may His Word and song shower comfort into your hurting heart today. Praying that He will also draw you near to the heart of God, as you suffer.

Truth: Near to the heart of God as we suffer…our Savior meeting us in suffering

There is a place of comfort sweet
Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33 ESV).

Truth: Near to the heart of God as we suffer…in His presence, with His indwelling Spirit

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4 ESV).

Truth: Near to the heart of God…asking for His strengthening gift of contentment as we suffer

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content (Phil. 4:11 ESV).

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

Truth: Near to the heart of God as we suffer…brings abundant hope in the last day, when we will see Him face to face!

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,

knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Rom. 5:1-5 ESV).

There is a place of full release
Near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.

Full release? Quiet rest? This can only be by His Spirit’s work, for these are tender times in which we are humbled, in which He draws us toward awe of our living God, our steadfastly loving Lord of life. These are times when we fall before Him in our most desperate need, asking Him to help us praise Him for what is true, as He helps us get through the next hour of suffering. These are times when our Lord Jesus teaches us more of His comfort, His strength, and of Himself in His Word and helps us to be content, with release into our Father’s perfect care for us as we suffer. Being still…and knowing He is…God.

Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2022

A playlist for release, to be still, because the Lord of hosts is with us

The weekly playlist gift I’d already made for you was His strengthening gift to me that week, once the pain subsided enough for me to listen to music. It was comforting, and God used it to foster contented peace in a different way — singing to Jesus…as the Lord of hosts!  

It knocked out every fear, every un-peace, and brought great hope in His return and my desire to see Him! Quiet rest became awed and joy-full worship and release once again, for sister in Christ, He is with us in this suffering. Incredible to be near to every bit of who Christ is, for us and in us, as we suffer!

This week, the music is my gift to you. If this would bless you as you suffer, sign up here, and it will come to your email with my love and prayers. 

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To read more of Lauri’s writing, you can use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, or 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, and encouragement from Lauri, click here for YouTube podcast 

Click for a music therapy-inspired podcast of Scripture and hymns to ease symptoms of illness and chronic pain