Category: Sorrow

My pilgrimage

Ruth Kirk

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage (Psalm 84:5; NIV).

My time here is a pilgrimage
From birth, through life, to death,
And you’re in charge at every stage,
Until my final breath.

With dread and agoraphobia
I’ve struggled through the years,
With anguish and anxiety,
Depression, sickness, tears.

I didn’t ask to be alive;
I didn’t want to live;
But, doggedly, I’ve tried to change,
To grow, to love, to give.

And you’ve been with me step by step
Along my troubled way:
Please help me still to cling to you,
Rejoice, give thanks, and pray.

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).

References

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).

Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

 

I love you

Ruth Kirk

You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30; NLT).

I love you in darkness,
In silence, as well.

I love you in stillness,
And solitude, too.

I love you in sickness,
And also in pain.

I love you in sorrow –
Please carry me through.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4; NKJV).

References

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

I love you, LORD; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

Each day he carries us in his arms (Psalm 68:19; NLT).

 

Finding love

Ruth Kirk

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 6:3; NIV).

I find my love in God,
And find my truth there, too.

I find my peace in God,
Whose Spirit makes me new.

I find my fire in God,
However cold the night.

I find my strength in God,
And Jesus is my light.

The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).

The Lord will be your permanent source of light (Isaiah 60:19; NET).

I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT). 

References

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

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

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

I am the LORD, who heals you (Exodus 15:26; NIV).

The Lord your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

He made darkness his covering (Psalm 18:11; NIV).

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29; NLT).

 

Finding hope

Ruth Kirk

We look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed (Titus 2:13; NLT).

I find my hope in Christ,
And find my joy there, too.

I find my peace in Christ,
Who heals, and makes me new.

I find my light in Christ,
However dark the night.

I find my strength in Christ,
For Jesus is my life.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

When Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory (Colossians 3:4; NLT).

References

For me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] (Philippians 1:21; AMP).

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you (John 14:27; 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).

He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30; RSV).

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work (1 Timothy 1:12; NLT).

 

Here, on earth

Ruth Kirk

There is one Savior, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of all, who is over all, who works through all and is within all (Ephesians 4:5-6; TIB).

Here, on earth,
In sun and rain;
Here, in beauty,
Joy, and pain;

Here, in life,
In good and bad;
Here, in all
That makes us sad;

Here, in every
Heart and soul,
Is God: the One
Who makes us whole.

He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

References

Will God really dwell on earth with humans? (2 Chronicles 6:18; NIV).

The Word was made flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14;  HNV).

 

Live in God’s kingdom

Ruth Kirk

The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Revelation 3:20; NLT).

Live in God’s kingdom,
And live in God’s might,
Sharing God’s gentleness,
Goodness, and light.

Live in God’s darkness,
And live in God’s flame,
Sharing God’s poverty,
Sorrow, and pain.

Live in God’s presence,
And live in God’s Son,
Sharing God’s tenderness –
Living as one.

Live in God’s Spirit
From heaven above,
Sharing God’s faithfulness –
Living in love.

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:15-16; NIV).

References

The Holy One will be a flame (Isaiah 10:17; NLT).

You must love the Most High God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30, TIB).

If you say you love God but hate your sister or brother, you are a liar. For you cannot love God, whom you have not seen, if you hate your neighbor, whom you have seen. If we love God, we should love our sisters and brothers as well; we have this commandment from God (1 John 4:20-21; TIB).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

“I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?” And he will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me” (Matthew 25:42-45; NLT).

 

I’m nothing

Ruth Kirk

I’m nothing more than dust and ashes (Job 30:19; NLT).

I’m nothing,
Though I’ve done my best
Through every trouble,
Trial, and test.

I try hard,
Yet I often fail;
I’m willing,
But my flesh is frail.

You know my faults,
My guilt, my shame:
I’m sorry –
Let me start again!

I turn to you –
Forgive my sin,
And heal me, Yahweh,
Deep within.

Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved (Jeremiah 17:14; NIV). 

References

How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! (Job 14:1; NLT).

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak (Mark 14:38; NLT).

He knows how frail we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

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

 

Healthy faith

Ruth Kirk

Be healthy in the faith (Titus 1:13; NLT).

Please give us all
A healthy faith,
So we accept
Your will with grace.

And though, like Christ,
We grieve, and pray:
“Please take this bitter cup
Away”,

Yet, help us to endure
Our load –
The gifts you place
Along our road –

For you send bad
As well as good,
To help us grow
In trust, and love.

Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong (Ephesians 3:17; NLT).

References

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

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

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name (Isaiah 45:3; NLT).

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death (Philippians 3:10; NLT).

 

Peace and justice

Ruth Kirk

If only you had paid attention to my commandments! Your peace would have been like a river, and your justice would have been like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:18; CPDV).

We can’t have peace
Without justice.
We can’t have war
Without blood.

We can’t have choice
Without fairness.
We can’t have God
Without love.

We can’t have truth
Without honour.
We can’t have hope
Without faith.

We can’t have life
Without sorrow.
We can’t have God
Without grace.

It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8; NIV).

References

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:7; NLT).

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

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23; AMP).

 

Punishments and rewards?

Ruth Kirk

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

Bad times aren’t a punishment,
And good times aren’t rewards –

All contribute to our growth,
And all are sent by God,

Who causes them to work together
For our highest gain –

So let’s face all our joys and sorrows,
Trusting in God’s holy name.

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

References

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

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realise that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NLT).

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal (Job: 5:17; NIV).

Those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction (Job 36:15; NIV).

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).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).