Lent

brown wooden cross pendant on closeup photography

Songs our suffering Savior sang, His solace and strength

Our suffering Savior has been giving me solace and strength in my own suffering by studying the Psalms as He might have sung them.  Because…He did sing them in His earthly life.  I wonder if He was comforted and strengthened in knowing that He was fulfilling prophecy as He hung Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
close up photo of bare hands

My suffering Savior’s songs of lament and hope

As my unmanaged chronic pain escalated on top of needed caregiving tasks, with long travel to help loved ones, and grief in losing a loved one…all at the same time…our Lord had already been inviting me to study the Psalms through my daily Bible reading plan. This time, He’d prompted Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
farmer holding lambs together

Christ will hold me fast, to the very end

When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He can hold me fast! (“He Will Hold Me Fast,” Habershon, A. R., 1906) I wonder if Ada wrote these lyrics into her deep suffering, so difficult that she feared she might leave Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

Rest in the gospel, into loss and grief

Grief’s shock. Another loss? Affecting children, grandchildren? Emotion’s waves and storms. Exponential, thickening layers of pain. Overwhelmed. Darkness threatens to stifle joy and hope.  May this prayer be His rest in the gospel if you are also grieving losses. As I suffer, in my unrest, rest in the gospel Thy Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
photo of woman raising both hands

Oh, this full and precious peace…as we suffer

O the power of love divine! Who its heights and depths can tell – Tell Jehovah’s grand design, To redeem our souls from hell? (“I am His and He is Mine,” Robinson, W., 1890) What’s your redemption story? His gift of redemption or justification happened for me when I was Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
close up of hands

Lord, I know. Rest me.

Precious Lord, Take my hand. I come to You weary. Help me to sing today. I need no other argument,  I need no other plea, it is enough that Jesus died,  and that he died for me.  (“MY FAITH HAS FOUND A RESTING PLACE,” EDMUNDS, L. H., 1891)  Who shall bring any charge against God’s Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
white goat kid on grass

Knowing Jesus suffered for me…and suffers with me

When bouts of electric shocks fired into my body, with violently convulsing pain, I couldn’t think but only endure. When they subsided, I always melted with gratitude to our Savior, who suffered with me.  Can you imagine His raw and exposed nerves struck by scourges? Can you imagine the physical Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
aerial view of a city

Singing the gospel when I’m afraid 

Father, The deceiver tempts us to fear that You’re punishing us when we suffer. When the hits keep coming, and we read the words of the Old Covenant, we’re easily afraid it’s our fault. We must not be doing enough to “earn” Your favor. Our accuser tempts us to think Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
clouds and blue sky

God’s presence and promised help as I suffer

Heavenly Father,  You encouraged Your people to be strong, without fear or dread, before they ventured into already-known hardship. Yes, they were entering Your promised land, but not without “many dangers, toils, and snares.” How could they head into new adventures with courage?  Your promise came true, of course. As Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago
'Simply to thy cross I

Healing beneath the cross of Jesus 

Jesus Christ, In this holiest of weeks, focusing on what You’ve done for me, I seek healing beneath the cross of Jesus.  I cannot relax or be calm; I have no rest, for turmoil has come (Job 3:26 CSB). The words of Job echo mine as I suffer. But they Read more

By Lauri Hogle, ago

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