Songs can so minister to us in pain. There are a few songs that I will forever identify with this season, helping me wash through grief and sift all the emotion of my broken heart. One of these has been How He Loves by the David Crowder Band and one portion in particular:
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.And oh, how He loves us, oh,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all
This life can dish out excruciating wounds from loss and brokenness and diagnoses. All month we’ve looked at how to brave this kind of brokenness.
- We’ve seen that, despite the pain, when we realize we’re helplessly dependent on God, we’re in a good place. We’ve looked at taking steps through the brokenness by daily exchanging our thoughts for God’s thoughts, by journaling, by practicing gratitude and having eyes to see the good that God has for us here.
- We’ve looked at the solid hope God promises and the pockets of joy He gives right in the midst of the hard. We’ve seen that suffering refines us and forever etches lessons we would not have understood on the sunny days.
- We’ve seen that suffering helps us hold this life – as precious as it is – more loosely because it crystallizes the truth that this world is not our home.
If we ever thought we could control all of life’s outcomes through just the right choices and just the right planning, trials and suffering remove that veil and prove we are not in control. No one is immune from pain. No one gets a pass.
Our expectations will help chart the course of how we walk through the hard when it does come.
If I consider myself entitled to the good life — comfort, a good living, health and ease – then suffering will not only stun but will likely leave fragments of bitterness, anger, unbelief.
If, on the other hand, I understand that this world is broken and that God will not shield me from suffering but will be with me in it, I may be stunned, but I will see much of God as I walk toward healing.
And if I understand that as a follower of Christ my life is not about me, I will see that all of life – the beautiful, the hard, the waiting, the fulfilling, the routine, the extraordinary – is for the glory of God.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17
Perhaps this seems a hard verse. My troubles are not light, you might say and you are probably right. But, as excruciating as the trials and suffering of this life are, they are incomparable to the glory that awaits in eternity.
This glory exceeds description. It is in Greek “huperbole eis huperbole” – superlatively surpassing to an excessiveness beyond measure.
It doesn’t mean we don’t feel real pain or suffer deep loss. Yes, absolutely. But we have hope. This is not the end. Our hope is in eternity with an all-surpassing glory.
Our hope. There will be a day when we will be unaware of these afflictions that have been eclipsed by glory. Oh, how deep His affection for us. How he loves us so.
We’ve arrived at the end of this 31 Day journey of Braving the Broken. Thank you for joining me. No one asks for this kind of journey, but I pray that we will mine every bit of what God has for us in it and will dig down deep into our relationship with Him. Thank you, friend for reading, for commenting, for sharing.
What have you learned as you have navigated the hard? Is there a song that has specially ministered to you? I’d love for you to share with us.
Thank you Lisa for sharing your beautiful, broken, but held, road with us. You are a precious woman, mother, friend and sister in Christ. I am so thankful to know you and your sweet family. Continued prayers and blessings to you and yours. <3
PS How He Loves is one of my favorites. So thankful for His hurricane blowing, tree bending love, that makes the roots of that tree grow stronger in dependance of Him. He is True and Faithful. Love you!
Pam, what a gift of encouragement and mercy you have. Your prayers, your smile and hugs are life to those around you. Love you and so grateful to call you friend.
That is also one of my favorite songs. My favorite line in the song is…”I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way they He loves…”
A song that ministered to me in an ongoing difficult life circumstance is “A Glorious Unfolding” by Steven Curtis Chapman
“God’s plan from the start for this world and your heart has been to show His glory and His grace, forever revealing the depth and beauty of His unfailing love.”
Oh, what a great lyric. That’s a beautiful song and SCC has walked it. Thank you, Sheryl.
I have loved ALL of your post these 31 days but this one especially.
I love that David Crowder Song and will think of it in a new fresh way after reading this awesome post.
Thank you for all you have blessed your readers with this month…well done !!
Happy you’ve joined this month, Mary. Thank you for your encouragement. 🙂
That is such an incredible song, and your words have been so encouraging, Lisa!
Thank you, Chelsea.
Thank you Lisa for blessing us those 31 days. You have blessed me with your beautiful faith and your walk with God. I know that He is always near. One of my favorite song is the one from Casting Crowns , Praise you in the Storm. May God bless you and your family!
Lisa, thank you for your transparency as you’ve shared with us on this 31 Day Journey. No matter what our struggles are, we share a common bond in the fact that we all have them. But in Christ we find unshakable hope. Praise God for that. I love that David Crowder song too. One of my favorites. Blessings and hugs to you, friend. xoxo
Yes, so true Abby. Thank you!
Lisa, 2 Corinthians 4:17 is an anchor when life is painful and confusing. Thanks for your encouraging words.
Thanks so much for sharing your heart, Lisa. I, too, believe songs can minister deeply to our hearts. For me right now, that song is “even if (the healing doesn’t come) by kutless.” I am battling chronic pain and joint degeneration caused by a connective tissue disorder but clinging to Christ to give me strength and show me meaning through it all. I love when you said, “But, as excruciating as the trials and suffering of this life are, they are incomparable to the glory that awaits in eternity.” I couldn’t agree more and will be keeping you in my prayers, dear sister. So glad I found your blog through Suzanne Eller’s linkup! <3
Lauren, what a battle. Thank you for your good words. I’m going to play that Kutless song in my car today and will pray for you. ?