Category: anguish

Transformation (with thanks to A.K.)

Ruth Kirk


“Only God can turn the dark night into glorious heavenly light”
(Alan Kearns).

Lord,

1. Turn our anguish
Into peace;
Our darkness
Into dazzling light.

2. Turn our sorrow
Into joy;
Our blindness
Into perfect sight.

3. Turn our judgements
Into love;
Our sickness
Into welcome rest,

4. And turn our dying
Into life eternal,
When we’ve faced
Each test.


References

1. Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs (Lamentations 1:20; NLT).

The Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29; NIV).

2. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice (Psalm 51:8; NLT).

The Lord gives sight to the blind (Psalm 146:8; NIV).

3. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence” (Isaiah 30:15; CSB).

4. Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:53; NLT).

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25; NLT).

The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NIV).

In danger

Ruth Kirk

Image: Sr. Maria-Magdalena R., Pixabay

🤎

1. In danger,
May I know, Lord,
The protection
Of your rod.

2. In sorrow,
May I trust
The consolation
Of your staff.

3. In sickness,
May I share
The tribulation
Of your cross.

4. In anguish,
May I grasp
The desolation
Of your loss.

🤎

References

1. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod…

2. …and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy (Psalm 94:19; NIV).

3. If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

4. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).

Christ’s passion

Ruth Kirk

Image: Harry Fabel, Pixabay

💛

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends
(John 15:13; NLT).

1. Welcomed by the crowds,
Who later jeered.

2. Kissed; betrayed;
Arrested, Lord, at night.

3. Deserted by your friends;
Alone; bereft.

4. Spat on, mocked, and whipped;
Accusers lied.

5. Judged unjustly;
Sentenced, and condemned.

6. Burdened by your cross,
As women grieved.

7. Crucified by guards,
Whom you forgave:

8. In agony, and anguish, Lord,
You died.

💛

References

1. The next day, the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:12-13; NIV).

The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” (Matthew 27:40; NLT).

2. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss” (Matthew 26:48; NLT).

Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him (Matthew 26:50; NLT).

3. Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away (Mark 14:50; NLT).

4. They spat on him and took the staff and struck him repeatedly on the head (Matthew 27:30; NET).

Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:29; NLT).

He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip (Mark 15:15; NLT).

Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other (Mark 14:56; NLT).

5. The leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” (Mark 15:12-13; NLT).

He […] turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified (Mark 15:15; NLT).

6. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (John 19:17; NLT).

A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women (Luke 23:27; NLT).

7. Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:24; NLT).

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34; NLT).

8. My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth (Psalm 22:14-15; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last (Mark 15:37; NLT).

Look for the Father

Ruth Kirk

Image: Dimitris Vetsikas, Pixabay

✝️

1. Look for the Father
Who dwells deep within,
Stirring our hearts
To repent of our sin.

2. Seek the Messiah
Who comes from above,
Sharing our anguish,
Outpouring his love.

3. Search for the Spirit
Who falls from on high,
Comforting everyone,
Hearing each sigh.

4. Turn to the Godhead
Who lives in us all –
Ask his forgiveness,
And welcome his call.

✝️

References

1. You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

Repent of your sins (Matthew 4:17; NLT).

2. I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me (John 6:38; NLT).

In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

3. The Holy Spirit fell upon them (Acts 11:15; NKJV).

He will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever (John 14:16; DBY).

Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

4. Turn to God (Matthew 4:17; NLT).

In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9; ASV).

We will come and make our home with each of them (John 14:23; NLT).

Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the Lord’s forgiveness before it is too late (Jeremiah 36:7; NLT).

He calls people (Romans 9:12; NLT).

God alone (with thanks to A.K.)

Ruth Kirk

Image: falco, Pixabay

🤎

Be sure that your faith is in God alone
(James 1:6; NLT).

1. God, alone,
Turns anguish into joy.

2. God, alone,
Turns darkness into light.

3. God, alone,
Turns hatred into love.

4. God, alone,
Turns blindness into sight.

5. God, alone,
Turns sickness into health.

6. God, alone,
Turns weakness into might.

7. God, alone,
Turns exile into home.

8. God, alone,
Turns dying into life.

🤎

References

1. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labour. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world (John 16:21; NLT).

2. The Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29; NIV).

3. Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you (Luke 6:27; NLT)

4. The Lord gives sight to the blind (Psalm 146:8; NLT).

5. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

6. To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh. […] Three times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me […] for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; NLT).

7. Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT).

8. Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, after dying” (John 11:25; NLT).

Once, you were here

Ruth Kirk

Image: bluebudgie, Pixabay

💙

1. Once, you were here,
In the manger:
New-born, Lord,
And brimming with light.

2. Once, you were here,
In the garden:
Anguished and grieving,
At night.

3. Once you were here,
On the cross, Lord:
In sorrow and pain,
All alone.

4. But now you are here
In my spirit:
My Shepherd, my Saviour,
My Own.

💙

References

1. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them (Luke 2:6-7; NIV).

I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12; NLT).

2. They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” (Mark 14:32-4; NLT).

Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NIV).

3. They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha […] Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:22,24; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).

4. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

I am the good shepherd (John 10:14; NLT).

The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14; NLT).

My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).

My offering

Ruth Kirk

Image: PictureHunter404, Pixabay

🖤
Bring your offering and come into his presence
(1 Chronicles 16:29; NLT).

🖤

1. Silence
Is my gift of gold,

2. And stillness,
All I can confer;

3. Solitude,
My frankincense,

4. And darkness, Lord,
My precious myrrh.

5. Sorrow
Is my heavy cross,

6. And suffering,
My sacred call;

7. Anguish,
My anointing oil,

8. And dying, Lord,
My bitter gall.

🖤

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
(Psalm 22:1; NLT).

🖤

References

1. Be silent before the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).

1-4. They opened their treasure-chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11; NLT).

2. Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10; NIV).

3. When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).

4. Darkness is my closest friend (Psalm 88:18; NLT).

5. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

6. If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

7. In the end you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body (Proverbs 5:11; NLT).

He has besieged and surrounded me with anguish and distress (Lamentations 3:5; NLT).

When she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial (Matthew 26:12; NET).

8. He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink (Lamentations 3: 5; NIV).

The Lord gives both death and life (1 Samuel 2:6; NLT).

Jesus doesn’t ask me

Ruth Kirk

Image: Hans Braxmeier, Pixabay

We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are –
yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15; NIV). 

1. Jesus doesn’t ask me
To go anywhere he hasn’t been,
Or to walk his narrow path alone.

2. Jesus doesn’t ask me
To face anything he hasn’t feared,
Or to cope with anguish on my own.

3. Jesus doesn’t ask me
To bear anything he hasn’t borne,
Or to suffer pain without his care.

4. Jesus doesn’t ask me
To love anyone he doesn’t love:
Instead, he waits to take my hand, and share.

 

References

1. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1; NLT).

I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

2. He became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” (Matthew 26:37-8; NLT).

In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

3. When they came to the place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross (Luke 23:33; NLT).

He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4; NIV).

4. Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NIV).

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NLT).

May I share

Ruth Kirk

Image: Tumisu, Pixabay

1. Father,
In my anguish,
May I share the mind of Christ.

2. Father,
In my torment,
May I share his flesh and blood.

3. Father,
In my dying,
May I share his sacrifice.

4. Father,
In my rising,
May I share his perfect love.

 

References

1. Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs (Lamentations 1:20; NLT).

Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NIV).

If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).

2. My heart is troubled and restless. Days of suffering torment me (Job 30:27; NLT).

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10; NLT).

3. Into your hands I commit my spirit (Psalm 31:5; NIV).

I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath (Psalm 146:2; NLT).

If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

4. Though I fall, I will rise again (Micah 7:8; NLT).

The time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again (John 5:28-9; NLT).

Perfect love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear (1 John 4:18; NLT).

You shield me

Ruth Kirk
Image: jplenio, Pixabay

This short dialogue is the starting-point for today’s prayer:

Moses: Show me your glorious presence.

God: I will make all my goodness pass before you. But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live. Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by (Exodus 33:18-22; NLT).

1. With thick clouds, Lord, you shield me
From your glory,
While you dwell within my flesh,
To give me life.

2. With shadows, you protect me
From your brilliance,
While you dwell within my mind,
To give me light.

3. With darkness, you preserve me
From your power,
While you dwell within my heart,
To give me rest;

4. And though my anguish
Blinds me to your presence,
You dwell within my soul,
So I am blest.

References

1. Thick clouds swirl about him (Job 22:14; NIV).

God is my shield (Psalm 7:10; NLT).

There is […] one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

He himself gives life and breath to everything (Acts 17:25; NLT).

2. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand (Isaiah 49:2; NLT).

He […] protects those who suffer (Job:11; NLT).

His face was like the sun in all its brilliance (Revelation 1:16; NLT).

The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness (Psalm 18:28; NLT).

3. He shrouded himself in darkness (2 Samuel 22:12; NLT).

The Lord preserves the simple (Psalm 116:6; RSV).

All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his (Jude 1:25; NLT).

I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; NLT).

4. How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? (Psalm 13:2; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

My eyes are blinded by my tears (Psalm 88:9; NLT).

You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

God blesses those who are poor in spirit, and realise their need for him (Matthew 5:3; NLT).

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation (James 1:12; NLT).