Category: Panic

Like You

Ruth Kirk

The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him (Mark 14:1; NLT).

Like You,
When we’re feeling alone,
And in trouble:
We’re still one with God.

Like You,
When we’re grieving, alone,
And in anguish:
We’re still one with God.

Like You,
When we’re dying, alone,
And in torment:
We’re still one with God.

Like You,
When we rise, Lord,
In heaven, forever:
We’re still one with God!

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-3; NIV).

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

References

He began to be deeply distressed and troubled (Mark 14:33; NIV).

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

Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face (John 19:1-3; NLT).

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

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

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NIV).

The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 12:10; NLT).

Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38; NLT).

Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

No matter what happens

Ruth Kirk

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

No matter what happens,
You’re here, Lord, within me.
No matter what happens,
I walk by your side.

No matter what happens,
You share in my anguish.
No matter what happens,
I need you, my Guide.

No matter what happens,
You love me forever.
No matter what happens,
I love you, Lord, too.

No matter what happens,
We face it together.
No matter what happens,
We always get through.

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).

 

Suffering and selfishness

Ruth Kirk

“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Mark 14:36; NLT).

Please take away our suffering;
Please take away our pain;
Please take away our grief and dread –
Then we’ll be whole again. 

Please take away our selfishness;
Please take away our hate;
Please take away our foolishness –
Before it’s far too late.

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).

References

The effect of an upright rule will be to take away fear for ever (Isaiah 32:17; BBE).

Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28; NLT).

 

Pray in silence

Ruth Kirk

There are two versions of today’s blog. The first is for when we desperately need to pray for ourselves, yet find it impossible to pray at all. This is a very common problem, and can be terribly distressing.

The second version is for when we feel desperate about the state of our world, yet are completely overwhelmed by the scale of suffering we and others cause for those less powerful than ourselves.

Version 1

Pray about everything. Tell God what you need (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Pray in silence; pray in stillness;
Pray in darkness; pray alone.

Ask the Holy Ghost to help you –
God will hear each sigh and groan.

Even if you cannot pray at all,
S/He knows you – mind, heart, soul,

And will pray on your behalf,
By asking God to make you whole.

Heal me, Lord (Psalm 6:2; NLT).

Version 2

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT). 

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Pray in silence; pray in stillness;
Pray in darkness; pray alone.

Ask the Holy Ghost to help you –
God will hear each sigh and groan.

Even if you cannot pray at all,
S/He knows you – mind, heart, soul –

S/He will pray on your behalf,
For all the world to be made whole.

He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us (Hosea 6:1; NIV). 

Reference

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will. And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose (Romans 8:26-8; AMP).

 

I trust you

Ruth Kirk

Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God” (Psalm 31:14; NIV).

You help me slowly,
Bit by bit:
I trust you,
For you never quit.

You mend my thinking,
Day by day:
I trust you,
For you light my way.

You ease my anguish,
Step by step:
I trust you,
For we share each threat.

You heal my spirit,
Year by year:
I trust you,
For you’re always here.

Behold, I am with you every day, even unto the end of time (Matthew 28:20; ABPE).

References

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13; NLT).

According to your faith [your trust and confidence in My power and My ability to heal] it will be done to you (Matthew 9:29; AMP).

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).

The LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it! (Genesis 28:16; NLT).

I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:7; NLT).

 

Prayer

Ruth Kirk

What can we bring to the Lord? (Micah 6:6; NLT).

To pray
Is to bring every terror,
And face it with God.

To pray
Is to bring every sorrow,
And grieve it with God.

To pray
Is to bring every sickness,
And share it with God.

To pray
Is to bring every burden,
And bear it with God.

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

Day after day he bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; CSB).

References

Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

 

Cling to Christ

Ruth Kirk

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

When your life
Is full of care,
Far beyond
What you can bear –

When your days
Are full of pain,
As your heart
Breaks, yet again –

When your nights
Are drenched with tears,
And your mind
Is wracked by fears –

Cling to Christ:
Your soul will soar,
Till nothing matters
Any more.

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31; NLT).

References

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

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28; NLT).

 

When I’m alone

Ruth Kirk

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

Lord, when I’m alone,
I cling to you;
And, when I’m depressed,
I trust in you.

Lord, when I’m afraid,
I cling to you;
And, when I’m distressed,
I trust in you.

Lord, when I’m in pain,
I cling to you;
And, when I ask, ‘Why?’,
I trust in you.

Lord, when I despair,
I cling to you;
And, when I must die,
I’ll trust in you.

Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory (1 Peter 1:21; NLT).

References 

From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help (Psalm 130:1; NLT).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

 

When you heal me

Ruth Kirk

O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed (Jeremiah 17:14; NLT).

Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Mark 14:36; NLT).

Lord,
When you heal my anguish,
All that’s left will be peace,
And, when you heal my tension,
All that’s left will be calm.

Lord,
When you heal my sorrow,
All that’s left will be joy,
And, when you heal my anger,
All that’s left will be balm.

Lord,
When you heal my shyness,
All that’s left will be poise,
And, when you heal my envy,
All that’s left will be good.

Lord,
When you heal my trauma,
All that’s left will be bliss,
And, when you heal my sickness,
All that endures will be love.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:7; NLT).

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4; NIV).

Lost?

Ruth Kirk

Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless (Psalm 107:4; NLT).

Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery (Psalm 107:10; NLT).

Lost in darkness, or abuse?
Lost in emptiness, or dread?
Lost in hopelessness, or sin?
Lost in panic, rage, or fear?

Lost in loneliness, or grief?
Lost in suffering, or pain?
Lost in bitterness, or hate?
Lost in anguish? Christ is here.

The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost (Luke 19:10; NLT).

I am with you every day, even unto the end of time (Matthew 28:20; ABPE).

References

He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:41-44; NLT).

Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested (Hebrews 2:18; NLT).

Since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:14-16; NLT).

No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39; NLT).