I’ve pondered this question over the many years of my earthly suffering: How does the gospel apply to our daily lives? How does the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ have personal relevance to our times of suffering and constant stress as we live in this fallen world?
Many are taught that Christians shouldn’t suffer, but what does God say? Let’s consider our risen and reigning Lord Jesus, His suffering, and ours.
The highest place that heav’n affords
is his, is his by right,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
and heav’n’s eternal Light…
(“The Head That Once Was Crowned With Thorns,” Kelly, T., 1820)
If I’m suffering, how can I be a beloved child of God? Ah, with Jesus!
For me, when I was finally able to re-enter a more normal life than being bedridden and in and out of hospitals, I realized He had just carried me through a tremendous crisis of faith that held a lot of questions.
My hardest question was much like Job’s, “If I’m suffering, am I His? How can I be a beloved child of God?”
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me (Mt. 10:38 ESV).
They suffer with their Lord below,
they reign with him above;
their profit and their joy to know
the myst’ry of his love.
Suffering with Jesus, clinging to Him, as a beloved child of God
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (1 Pet. 4:12-13 ESV).
Beloved, our clinging to Jesus in our deep need is proof that we are His! If we didn’t endure suffering by looking to the Lord for help in this earthly life, I’d be more concerned. Let’s both rejoice!
The cross he bore is life and health,
though shame and death to him;
his people’s hope, his people’s wealth,
their everlasting theme.
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. 5:3-5 ESV).
The joy of all who dwell above,
the joy of all below;
to whom he manifests his love,
and grants his name to know.
If I’m suffering from the weight of sin, how can I be a beloved child of God? Such grace…with Jesus
My fears required daily gospel understanding. Even after lifesaving brain surgeries, there were many days I didn’t feel worthy of being loved by God, because it was difficult to love others when my body still hurt all the time. I realized my sin more and more. I knew I was falling short of the standard of God’s perfect and holy righteousness.
But God carried me with the songs that sing the gospel truth! Like these lyrics about Jesus!
He left his Father’s throne above
(so free, so infinite his grace!),
humbled himself (so great his love!)
and bled for all his chosen race!
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for, O my God, it found out me!
(“And Can It Be,” Wesley, C., 1738)
Our heavenly Father…so lovingly reminded me that I was made for HIS glory, to magnify Jesus’ worth and not my own. To cling to His grace, every hour. OF COURSE I needed His gracious help as a saved sinner, for He was still conforming me to the image of my beloved Savior! (Rom. 8:29)
And His work of grace and love continues. It’s ongoing, for both of us. All the way to the end.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Rom. 8:18 ESV)!
The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty Victor’s brow!
Amazing grace, in every bit of our suffering, belonging to Jesus, with Jesus, and becoming more and more like Jesus
To them the cross, with all its shame,
with all its grace, is giv’n;
their name an everlasting name,
their joy the joy of heav’n.
I know you know this song – let’s sing it together. If you belong to Jesus, this is His song to us, beloved.
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
his Word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.
A playlist gift to sing, suffering…with Jesus
This week’s playlist gift sings these gospel truths to our Lord Jesus and to our hearts. We sing of His love and grace, of His suffering in our place, of His reign, and of His hope in the day when our suffering will finally be over forever. We sing of His suffering with us, His comforting truths to our hurting hearts.
Would this help you rejoice as you are suffering too? To take heart? To endure? If it might help you to sing Christ’s hope, sign up below, and it will come to your email with my love and prayers.
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 channel
For our symptoms of chronic illness and pain, this music therapy-inspired podcast of Scripture and hymns helps calm them
