Category: loss

Suffering and loss

Ruth Kirk

Pray for all people. Ask God to help them;
intercede on their behalf
(1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).

1. Lord,
I pray for all of us
Who suffer:

2. Those yearning for a home,
A job,
A child;

3. Those thirsting for freedom
From fear, abuse,
Or exploitation;

4. Those longing for better health
For others,
Or themselves;

5. And those who ache
For the presence
Of the dead.

6. Please strengthen us
To face each loss;
Console us when we mourn.

7. Help us to find
New hope in you,
And to rebuild our lives

8. By following your much-loved Son,
Who gave up all he had
For us.

Through his dear name,
Amen.

References

1. Pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).

2. Forget not your servant but give her a son (1 Samuel 1:11; NIV).

3. The oppressed will be set free (Luke 4:18; NLT).

4. He will heal us (Hosea 6:1; NLT).

5. You have taken away my companions and my loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend (Psalm 88:18; NLT).

6. Even when I walk in the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

7. “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11; NLT).

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me!” (Matthew 4:19; NLT).

8. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being (Philippians 2:6-7; NLT).

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us (1 John 3:16; NLT).

Good and bad

Ruth Kirk

1. Thank you, Lord,
For good and bad,
For all I’ve learned,
And all I’ve lost.

2. Thank you, Lord,
For all you give,
For all you take,
And life’s great cost.

3. Thank you, Lord,
For all your love,
For your forgiveness,
And your Son.

4. Thank you, Lord,
For sending us
Your Spirit, who
Makes us all one.

References

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

2. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

3. He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

4. You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).

Wake from the nightmare

Ruth Kirk
Image: Johannesburg Plenio, Pixabay

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

1. Let’s wake from the the nightmare
Of childhood,
And think of the mountains
We’ve crossed.

2. Let’s cast off the hell
Of our parents,
And rise above all
We have lost.

3. Let’s wake in the light
Of God’s kingdom
To think of his Son,
And forgive.

4. Let’s cast off depression
And darkness,
And rise in his strength –
Then we’ll live!

Image: nonmisvegliate, Pixabay

References

1. Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Ephesians 5:14; NIV).

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult (Matthew 7:14; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

2. Banish anxiety from you heart and and cast off the troubles of your body (Ecclesiastes 11:10; NIV).

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

3. [Give] joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12; NIV).

If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you (Matthew 6:14; NIV).

4. Those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired (Isaiah 40:31; NET).

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NLT).

Every illness

Ruth Kirk
Image: Christine Kugel, Pixabay

A wise person thinks a lot about death (Ecclesiastes 7:4; NLT).

1. Every illness helps us
To prepare ourselves
For death.

2. Working to accept each loss
Will help us give up life
And breath.

3. May we welcome all our trials
With courage, thanks, Lord,
Joy and grace,

4. For each one brings us ever closer
To your kiss,
And your embrace.

References

1. A wise person thinks a lot about death (Ecclesiastes 7:4; NLT).

2. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NIV).

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

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

4. The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NIV).

A day full of shadows

Ruth Kirk


1. A day full of shadows,
A night full of pain;

2. A dawning in darkness
To suffer again.

3. A mountain of torment,
A torrent of fears –

4. Where did my freedom go?
Melting in tears.

5. An infinite sentence
Of chronic ill-health

6. And the loss of life’s riches –
But God is my wealth.

References

1. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

2. At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock (Mark 15:33; NLT).

3. Days of suffering torment me (Job 30:27; NLT).

4. When you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go (John 21:18; NIV).

5. Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those that long for death that does not come, who search for it more than hidden treasure? (Job3:20-2; NIV).

6. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NIV).

How great are God’s riches of wisdom and knowledge! (Romans 11:33; NLT).

Nothing is wasted

Ruth Kirk
Photo: MichaelGaida

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Gather up the broken pieces that are left over,
so that nothing is wasted”
(John 6:12; NET).

1. Nothing, Lord, is wasted
In your kingdom –
All things work together
For our gain.

2. May we accept what comes,
Both good and bad, Lord,
With thanks for every pleasure,
Loss, and pain.

3. Help us to learn
From all our trials and sorrows,
Rejoicing in your wisdom
And your name,

4. Then, even that which breaks us
Won’t be wasted,
For we will comfort those
Who share the same.

References

1. The Kingdom of God is already among you (Luke 17:21; NLT).

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28; NLT).

2. Should we accept only good from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

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

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name (Psalm 33:21; NLT).

4. I am like a broken vessel (Psalm 31:12; NKJV).

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4; NLT).

Thank you for your fire

Ruth Kirk

1. Thank you for your fire, Lord,
In my life;
My fears and failures;
All I have attained.

2. Thank you for your truth, Lord,
In my mind;
My pain and loss;
The wisdom I have gained.

3. Thank you for your peace, Lord,
In my heart;
My faith and hope;
The trust I place in you.

4. Thank you for your love, Lord,
In my soul;
My help in all I think,
And say, and do.

References

1. God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

2. The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

3. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

4. God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).