Soldier of Christ? Arise in and through our suffering!

In this week’s one-year anniversary of brain surgery, I am in awe of what our Lord and King has done. I’m alive! Hallelujah!

Beloved in Christ, it’s far grander than His kind gift of so much physical healing. It’s way more holistic and weighty than that.

I can only describe what God has done as His “kingdom healing” as I suffer on this earth. 

I recently saw a Jonathan Edwards quote that describes it…God’s gift of “strength to steadfastly maintain calmness, meekness, sweetness, and benevolence of mind” amidst all the sufferings of this fallen world. The quote mentioned that this is the mark of…

“a soldier of Christ!”

That immediately took me to an encouraging hymn, and I realized that’s what He’s made me feel like this year! A soldier of Christ? Weak and weary me? Yes, He’s changing me into one who cares far more about His kingdom work of love and grace than my remaining blip of an earthly life!

Is your suffering producing the same thing? What a wonder of His transforming work within us, enabling us to face anything and “arise” within any future suffering on earth…

Soldiers of Christ, arise,
and put your armor on,
strong in the strength which God supplies
through his eternal Son.

(“Soldiers of Christ, arise,” Wesley, C., 1749)

In the hands of the risen and reigning King Jesus, my Commander in Chief…

Meekness, as Edwards described?

Humbled so small and needy before His throne? 

Definitely.

The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all (Ps. 103:19 ESV).

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations (Ps. 145:13 ESV).

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (Dan. 7:14 ESV).

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:3 ESV).

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 5:10 ESV).

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God (Lk. 6:20 ESV).

Strong in the Lord of Hosts,
and in his mighty pow’r,
who in the strength of Jesus trusts…
is more than conqueror!

Producing no more anxiety about my future in this world, because I belong to His Kingdom as a soldier of Christ!

Calmness? Peace? It’s happened! All year long, no matter what a day holds! Glory to God for His healing of anxiety!  

Now, after the last two years of suffering with incurable, I rest quieted in knowing that our triune God will provide absolutely everything needed…for whatever He desires for me for the rest of my earthly life…until the day I die or Jesus returns and consummates His kingdom! 

Seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you (Lk. 12:31 ESV).

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Lk. 12:32 ESV).

Loosening my grip on this world as a soldier of Christ

He’s pruned away so much in this latest round of suffering! Soldiers of Christ, arise!

• My desire for comfort or ease as a functional life goal. 
• Thinking that everything that stands in the way of comfort and ease is a problem to be prevented, fixed, avoided, controlled, or removed. For me and others.
• Trusting in my own plans and desired outcomes. 
• Fearing what others might think. 

Stand then in his great might,
with all his strength endued;
but take, to arm you for the fight,
the panoply of God.

God’s “panoply,” the complete and delightful collectiveness of who He is, has made me rejoice in what He’s done for everyone in His kingdom! Not our own “kingdoms” in this visible world, but His “invisible” kingdom! What He’s doing deep down as we both suffer, in His transforming work in each of our hearts!

The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever (Dan. 2:44 ESV).

Asking God for continual courage to face ongoing battles with evil in this world, a soldier of Christ in my King’s hand

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen (2 Tim. 4:18 ESV)!

Leave no unguarded place,
no weakness of the soul;
take ev’ry virtue, ev’ry grace,
and fortify the whole.

Thy kingdom come, Lord!

Last week, I shared of His sweetness and comfort as we suffer. It’s all connected with His kingdom work in and through us, in the precious hands of our Lord Jesus Christ!

What could be more sweet than seeing others being transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of light (Col. 1:13)?

What could be sweeter than our sure hope for Jesus’ return and consummation of His kingdom into eternity?

Confidently and joyfully expecting our salvation, because we’ve been justified and made right with God, by grace through faith in Christ alone?

Seeing Him gradually change our desires from within, to match His? Transformation! Sanctification!

It is SO sweet to walk with the King every day of our suffering, knowing He is bringing His kingdom about and somehow including us as part of His kingdom work, helping us to love Him and others!

To keep your armor bright,
attend with constant care;
still walking in your Captain’s sight,
and watching unto prayer.
From strength to strength go on;
wrestle and fight and pray;
tread all the pow’rs of darkness down,
and win the well-fought day.

A playlist for my “soldiers of Christ” sisters to sing, “Thy kingdom come,” as we suffer

I’ve made the playlist to praise and thank Him on this anniversary, and it rejoices my heart! Beholding our King Jesus, our music also comes to Him in our suffering needs, cries to Him, and asks Him to come as we sing-pray…oh, He has fueled my faith for whatever He already knows is coming. 

If it would encourage you into your own battles within earthly suffering right now, sign up below, and I’ll send it to your email with my love and prayers. Or see other resources below.

Soldier of Christ, sister in Christ, take heart…we belong to the King!

First Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human:

For short YouTube encouragements, click here!

For Bible study devotional prayer journals as we suffer, click for details:

Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering

Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering

Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in Our Suffering

For music therapy-inspired podcast and prayer to help with chronic illness and pain, click here.