Preparing for suffering, leaning on the everlasting arms

Father,

We’re easily tempted to dread future suffering. Just flipping on the news will do it! We all need Your help. In Isaiah 12, You prepared Your people for upcoming suffering. In their case, You would judge their many years of sinful turning away from You. But You were mercifully preparing the enduring remnant of Your people beforehand, by Your Word. And that remnant?

Through them, You produced Your promised Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ! I praise You that Jesus has won victory over our own sinful turning away, already taking our required judgment as those who trust in Him alone for salvation!

So, in our case as believers? You’re now preparing us for “that day” (Is. 12:1), the final day when Jesus returns to judge sin and all of Your prophecy is fulfilled. 

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment; and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed (Is. 51:6 ESV). 

Prepare us now with Your Word, for any future suffering in this fallen world headed to “that day,” for we are one day closer to seeing our beloved King Jesus as He is! Prepare us as we lean on You.

Leaning on Your everlasting arms of comfort and peace

You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you WERE angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me” (Is. 12:1 ESV, emphasis added).

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

(“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” Hoffman, E. A., 1887)

I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man…and have forgotten the LORD, your maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth (Is. 51:13 ESV). 

Leaning on Your indwelling Holy Spirit for strength

The LORD God is my strength and my song (Is. 12:2 ESV).

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might (Eph. 6:10 ESV).

That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being (Eph. 3:16 ESV).

Leaning on the everlasting, secure, and safe salvation You’ve given to me 

He has become my salvation (Is. 12:2 ESV). 

O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble (Is. 33:2 ESV).

Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken (Ps. 62:2 ESV).

Leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus, for joy in the midst of suffering

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Is. 12:3 ESV).

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory (1 Pet. 1:8 ESV).

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel (Is. 12:6 ESV). 

Count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds (Jas. 1:2 ESV).

Leaning on You for a song of praise, no matter what suffering may come

For Who is coming one day? Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior and our righteous and faithful King!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the earth in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness (Ps. 96:12-13 ESV).

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?

Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth (Is. 12:5 ESV).

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Help me to respond to Your Word as I lean on You until that day comes

Lord of heaven and earth, I rest in utter reliance and dependence on You. In today’s suffering, I lean on Your unchanging character. I rest in Your protective care and strength, held within Your plan for every hour and day between now and “that day.” I trust You as I thank You, my loving Father, for You’re preparing me for anything to come. I trust You, my victorious and compassionate Savior, as You remind me that I will see You as You are! I lean on Your everlasting arms, living within me, Holy Spirit. Help me exalt You with my life and words, even as I suffer today. In Jesus’ name, salvation itself, amen.

Playlist and other resources to help us lean on the Lord in suffering

Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day (Ps. 96:1-2 ESV).

I wrote this into a battle of more hard news…on Thursday. But God had already prepared the way with these Scriptures and a whole accompanying playlist to sing…the prior Monday! What a merciful God to prepare us for anything to come!

I delight in sharing these same Scriptural playlists with my suffering sisters in Christ each week. So if it might bless you, sign up, and this week’s “Preparing for suffering, in Your arms” playlist will come to your email. I pray that singing through it helps you as much as He has helped me! For the LORD IS our strength and our song!