The lies fill our thoughts.
”I can’t do this today. I can’t keep going like this.”
“God doesn’t hear me.”
“He’s forgotten me, abandoned me.”
Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near…
(“As thy days, so shall thy strength be,” Fawcett, J., p.d.)
“Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20 ESV).
The Savior’s gracious promise hear…
His faithful Word declares to thee,
That as thy days, thy strength shall be.
Today, God will give me strength to keep going
When called to bear the weighty cross,
Or sore afflictions, pain, or loss…
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you (Deut. 31:6 ESV).
Or deep distress or poverty,
Still as thy days, thy strength shall be.
Tomorrow, God will give me strength to keep going, by the work of His Spirit
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you (Rom. 8:9-11 ESV).
Thy faith is weak, thy foes are strong;
And if the conflict should be long.
Thy Lord will make the tempter flee;
For as Thy days, Thy strength shall be.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Rom. 8:14-17 ESV).
God will give me strength to daily live out His purpose for my life
For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Rom. 8:29 CSB).
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18 ESV).
Should persecution rage and flame,
Still trust in Thy Redeemer’s name.
In fiery trials thou shalt see,
That as thy days, your strength shall be.
Until my glorious life eternal, God will strengthen me, in His love for me
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2 Cor. 4:16-18 ESV).
Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2022
Beloved in Christ, will you pray with me?
Father God, You know what is best for me and my life, as Your beloved child, in Christ. As my days, my strength shall be…because my days are Yours and You promise to give me strength each day. You are my strength, dwelling within me, always present with me. So, strengthen me to pray along with Jesus, “Abba Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will” (Mk. 14:35-36). These are His strong words of faith in You and I need His strength to carry me. Then, please strengthen me for all that today holds, leaving my tomorrows in Your hands of deep love for me. In the name of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.
Resources to help us pray and be strengthened by God’s Word
Sister in Christ, if you’re having a day of feeling so weak because you’re walking in a time of suffering, this is my prayer for you:
“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16).
I’ve had so many days of suffering, wondering how I can make it through one more hour… yet alone another day. I can only tell you that, through the strength God gives us as His Spirit illuminates His Word and (for me) by singing songs that echo His Word, He’s continually providing His strength to endure.
He is.
And He will.
I’m praying any of the resources below will be God’s strengthening gift of grace to your hurting heart.
For weekly prayer and playlist of Scriptural songs to sing, with access to resource library, sign up here:
To hear Scripture devotional with calming hymn playing, click here for YouTube podcast.
Devotional Bible study prayer journals, available on Amazon. Click for details.
3 Comments
Laura Schmuck · August 22, 2023 at 9:48 am
Dear Lauri,
I am truly suffering with doubts that I am saved. My life does not show that I am. I continue to restrict my eating, feeling so alone and very suicidal. I keep thinking that if I had truly repented of my sins I would not be living this life continually entrenched in sin and not willing to trust God with my whole heart. I have not had assurance of my salvation for a long time. If I truly repented and turned to God, I would not be still enslaved in fear and trying to control my own life. Yes, I believe that Jesus died for me and his death is sufficient to save me, but without true repentance there can be no salvation. I mentally know and believe in Christ for salvation, but have not repented completely and turned away from sin. I have been listening to sermons on true repentance and I know that I have not truly repented because of the way I live and act. No fruit. I am scared and do not want to die because I don’t know if Jesus would say, I never knew you.
Lauri Hogle · August 23, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Precious Laura, my heart cries with yours. I’m not sure who you listen to, but perhaps listen to, inhale, feed on, learn from God’s living and active Word instead for a bit, learning, remembering, and believing the true gospel rather than a human’s personal interpretation. I’m emailing you so we can talk privately, with so much love and prayer. 🙏🏼❤️
Lauri Hogle · August 22, 2023 at 11:08 am
Precious Laura, I have so much to share with you, knowing that His “perfect love casts out all fear.” Sometimes sermons and well-meaning teachers can take us off-course from that of the Good Shepherd and His narrow way, the gospel, especially when we are suffering. But what does the whole of God’s Word say on the matter? My heart aches for you, especially knowing that this particular suffering is the worst of all. Having the assurance of salvation is essential and it’s His desire for us. We have no hope in Christ without it. How He’s had me wrestle in the same way, several times over the years of suffering. I’d very much like to email you as we ponder the gospel of Jesus Christ together. Let’s do it privately instead of a public forum. If you aren’t subscribed yet, please do, and then let’s email and pray and pray together. With all love and empathy, Lauri
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