What do I answer them, Lord? With whom can I be honest? How honest? The store cashier, the social media friend, family members, the people in my life who’ve gone on with their busy lives.
People wouldn’t even know I’m hurting inside. My invisible illnesses. My invisible pain. My daily loss upon loss.
Would my honest answer bring even more hurt? Burden them?
“I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning” (Ps. 38:6 ESV).
There “is a time to mourn” (Eccl. 3:4 ESV).
When they ask me how I am…is it that mourning time for me?
Give me wisdom in how to answer each of them, Lord.
Especially in this season of festivity.
Feasting.
Celebrating.
“The holidays…”
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land…1
How am I…laced with hope in Christ?
Perhaps my answer could be laced with hope, as one who mourns, but with hope in Christ?
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.2
In every conversation and encounter, help me first to see You, precious Savior, and then magnify You when I answer their questions.
In this sick body, in its losses, would you kindly use songs of this “holiday” season to help me answer?
How AM I?
How is my body, with hope in Christ?
“The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;
IN his illness, you restore him to full health” (Ps. 41:3 ESV, emphasis added).
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy pow’rful hand.
How is my heart, with hope in Christ?
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more.
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings…3
“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18 ESV).
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:8 ESV).
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
How are my thoughts, with hope in Christ?
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Rom. 5:10 ESV)!
strong Deliv’rer, strong Deliv’rer,
be thou still my strength and shield!
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Tim. 1:15 ESV).
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8 ESV).
How is my healed soul, with hope in Christ?
Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow…
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Pet. 2:24 ESV).
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through…
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
let all within us praise His holy name!4
How are they doing…really? Do they have hope in Christ?
Turn my eyes to You, Jesus.
Turn me outward in love for those asking how I’m doing.
Remind me WHOSE I am, as I both mourn and share Your hope in this special “holiday” season, even through truth-filled tears of loss.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger;
in all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Because maybe? Their smiles hide their own losses, but they have no hope. Maybe they’re not a child of the King. So they’re scared…to death. They’re scared of loss. They’re scared of sickness. They’re scared of death.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside…
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, [Jesus Christ] himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14-15 ESV).
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side…
“to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified” (Is. 61:3 ESV).
songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee!
Jesus, You prayed to our Father for me, interceding for me in my suffering, before Your suffering, for me:
“All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them” (Jn. 17:10 ESV).
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim…
“in order that
in everything
God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet. 4:11 ESV).
A healing podcast for us to use when symptoms of chronic illness and pain worsen in this “holiday” season
How are you? If you’re like me, symptoms always increase at this time of the year. For me, part of it is the cold of winter, now that I have a metal plate holding my brain up. Yes, my answer to “how are you” cannot be “great” if I’m honest about my body. But can we both answer with His kind gifts of hope, from within our gratitude and sure hope that we’re now a beloved and reconciled child of the King? As we mourn losses in this fallen world?
This music therapy-inspired podcast reads these Scriptures and sings these songs into our hurting bodies, helping us to simultaneously think on these things…of our hope in Christ. And I’m praying it helps us feel better in the process.
My best advice? Tap on your body as you listen. Breathe in time to the music itself as it gradually triggers the release of God’s natural painkillers and calms the autonomic nervous system. The slower you exhale, the better. Ask Your great Jehovah to guide you as you sing His songs within, in praise to our King, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I’ll be having some surgery in December and then, prayerfully, will be spending some time helping our daughter with our new baby grandson in January! Have a beautiful celebration of our Lord’s incarnation, beloved child of the King, until we connect again here.
To read more of Lauri’s writing and receive weekly playlist gifts, visit her website.
You can also use her devotional Bible study lament prayer journals: Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering, or Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character as We Suffer, or Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering. In the Valleys of God’s Love is written for children aged 3-8, a perfect read for grandparents, parents, and children to share together, preparing them for suffering to come.
For Scripture devotionals, calming hymns, and encouragement from Lauri, you can also click here for YouTube channel.
“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” Williams, W., 1745
“A Child of the King,” Buell, H. E., 1877
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” Wesley, C., 1739
“O Holy Night,” Cappeau, P., 1847
