Priorities when suffering changes my life

What were my priorities before God graciously gave me “rebirth” and the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)? They all were focused on myself, my wants, me in the middle, my comfort and safety as central, all borne of the sin nature we’re all born with (Rom. 3:10-11, 23).

Oh, how priorities have changed since He rescued me…and radically changed since suffering again started two years ago. Now, as treatment side effects and illness symptoms worsen, I’m blown away by further increased shifts in my heart’s priorities.

You read about this in others’ lives and think, “I could never be that bold or sold out for Christ” or “strong” or…fill in the blank! But for me this time? Maybe it’s the harsh drug, combined with the Holy Spirit’s stirring, and the outpoured love and encouraging prayers of so many, even as I grow weaker and slow into being unable to “do” much of anything. It’s been so upsetting, with many tears of grief.

But it’s wild…I’ve also been crying tears of indescribable gratitude and adoration of our Lord. It’s like all of life is becoming more and more about Jesus…and only Jesus! His kingdom priorities! His love, His grace. “Not what my hands have done”…but what His pierced hands did…for me and you!

Perhaps this week’s praise interruption and playlist will “courage into” you in your own suffering right now, beloved in Christ. I know you’re hurting too, so let’s take a moment and come to the cross together in wonder and awe of His gospel gift. Of His love’s priorities in us.

Father God,

My priorities changed when You saved me and imputed to me Your perfect righteousness, in Jesus Christ

Not what my hands have done 
can save my guilty soul;
not what my toiling flesh has borne 
can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do 
can give me peace with God;
not all my prayers and sighs and tears 
can bear my awful load.

(“Not What My Hands Have Done,” Bonar, H., 1861)

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5 ESV)…

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe (Rom. 3:22 ESV).

Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified (Gal. 2:16 ESV).

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1 ESV).

My priorities when suffering changes my life? It’s to share Your perfect peace found in the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ

Oh Lord, this is Your love…and my way to love others

Thy work alone, O Christ, 
can ease this weight of sin;
thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, 
can give me peace within.

Thy love to me, O God, 
not mine, O Lord to thee,
can rid me of this dark unrest, 
and set my spirit free.

 

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8 ESV).

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life (Rom. 5:9-10 ESV).

It’s only Your ongoing grace and power that are transforming me as suffering changes my life, Triune God

Thy grace alone, O God, 
to me can pardon speak;
thy power alone, O Son of God, 
can this sore bondage break.
No other work, save thine, 
no other blood will do;
no strength, save that which is divine, 
can bear me safely through.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love (Gal. 5:6 ESV).

There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing (2 Tim. 4:8 CSB).

As I suffer, my priorities are to abide in Your love, loving You and others as You empower me, in union with Christ

I bless the Christ of God; 
I rest on love divine;
and with unfaltering lip and heart, 
I call this Savior mine.
This cross dispels each doubt; 
I bury in his tomb
each thought of unbelief and fear, 
each lingering shade of gloom.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9 ESV).

And this is his commandment, 

that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, 

just as he has commanded us.

Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us (1 Jn. 3:23-24 ESV).

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

In this the love of God was made manifest among us,

that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him (1 Jn. 4:8-9 ESV, emphasis added).

When suffering changes my life, You promise to produce Your priorities within me!

I praise the God of grace; 
I trust his truth and might;
he calls me his, I call him mine, 
my God, my joy, my light.
‘Tis he who saveth me, 
and freely pardon gives;
I love because he loveth me, 
I live because he lives.

For from him and through him and to him are all things, To him be glory forever. Amen (Rom. 11:36 ESV)!

Resources if suffering is changing your life

This week’s playlist sing-prays to our Lord and Savior, the glorious and compassionate God of grace, as we sing the gospel to our hurting hearts. It has helped me see Him, adore Him, rest in Him into my increasing disability and grief.

Do you know Jesus Christ? Are you particularly dry and thirsting for Him right now? Oh, He so lovingly calls us to come to Him, to simply come to the cross.

Suffering is such a special time to be drawn near to Jesus in our pain, isn’t it? Perhaps He’s clarifying your priorities right now too. Changing them. Maybe He’s beckoning you to a new or deepened relationship with Him as His living and active Word speaks back to your desperate prayers.

God has been profoundly encouraging and beckoning me lately, as new layers of serious illness grip my days and bring immense change and accompanying grief…hence all of the resources below to encourage you, a newly focused use of my time on earth. It’s all His love, and I pray they will be His gifts of love and grace to you as well.