It was a holy night. Jesus Christ, our Savior, was born. Can you imagine the sound filling the sky as the multitude of angels arrived? What a sound must have been the glory of heaven, lyrics from worship at His throne breaking into our earthly atmosphere, praising God!
The song “O Holy Night” exhorts us:
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
(Cappeau, P., 1847. Trans. Dwight, J.S.)
But what if our song is fading? What if suffering feels too intense to sing this Christmas season?
I remember a Christmas season when I was in the hospital. I remember being in and out of consciousness, in a haze of pain, with clouded flurries of beeping, nurses, needles, tubes, and sterile darkness. It was impossible to read my Bible. It was hard to sing. I remember trying to sing through tears of fear, loss, and loneliness. Scriptural lyrics and internalized Scriptures sustained me in those moments as the Holy Spirit brought them to my awareness.
Is it hard for you to sing right now too, beloved friend in Christ?
Who is the source of our song? Who is the source of our faith? When everything seems to be falling apart, Who is holding it together?
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
It is Jesus Himself. As a believer, we are standing in faith by His grace, through His birth, from His cradle to the cross and resurrection. Through His presence with us, our Emmanuel “God with us” presence by His indwelling Spirit, we stand. We may be lying in a hospital bed, but in the reality of His kingdom, we are in His presence. By His presence, by His continual grace, He gives us faith to stand, no matter what we are suffering this Christmas.
Abide in Jesus Christ
To abide in the presence of Jesus, to stand stable or remain in His presence during suffering, He lovingly tells us we need His words as we talk to Him.
How I need to listen to and trust the Word made flesh, and trust His words in Scripture. How we all need to study, learn, and hear the word of Christ, the word of God, to stand with faith. Dear ones, He promises He will provide faith to us through His Word.
Worship Jesus Christ
In response to His grace, His love, and the faith He gives us as He speaks to us in Scripture, He helps us respond in worship! Dear friend, the Lord will give you words to sing to Him, in and into your suffering and into your tears.
My words to sing this Christmas? Into pain, suffering, and loss, the words are those of His gospel truth.
Jesus humbled Himself to be born as a human baby.
Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life.
Jesus chose the death you and I deserve as sinners, satisfying God’s just wrath on our sin.
Jesus rose from the dead in full power over sin and death, so that we who are His might live in His abiding presence now and forever.
Glory to God in the highest!!
These days, seeing Christmas lights remind me of the Light of the world, of the One who was born to draw us to Himself and bring us into His everlasting light and out of darkness.
Sing to Jesus Christ in response to the gospel
Do you need words to sing as worship to Jesus right now? Do you need Christ-exalting, gospel-proclaiming songs to sing this Christmas? So do I.
Do you need to sing the Word of God to internalize it, to abide, and stand firm in your faith? So do I.
It’s such a delight to create and share weekly playlists, in love for you, using knowledge He’s given me through my career’s work. This week’s YouTube “Fall on our knees” playlist is filled with gospel-centered Christmas lyrics to help us sing in worship as we join the angels in glorifying Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, our Light in the darkness.
If it would help you to receive this gift, sign up for the playlist in your email! I pray He might use it as you “Sing Christ’s Hope Into Your Suffering” this Christmas season. Sign up here and I will send them to you on Tuesday evenings!
2 Comments
Peggy Elder · December 8, 2020 at 7:50 pm
Your most powerful post yet – God is working through you most definitely Lauri! I praise God for allowing our paths to cross and thank you for being a such a blessing in my life.
Lauri Hogle · December 9, 2020 at 3:41 pm
Peggy, your comment is such an encouragement to me! Thank you! I’m in utter amazement that God has brought us together in this journey of life, in its sorrows and trials. You encourage me daily and are a beautiful blessing to me!
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