[163]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JOY FOR SORROW - CARE IN HURT
The title of this poem has two contrasts – sorrow turning to joy, and hurt adopting care.
This poem was written 27 years ago and since that time much has changed in the world for the followers of the Lord. Persecution has increased and my heart goes out to our fellow believers in Africa. The horrible conditions Christians are facing from Islam, we in the west just can’t appreciate.
I pray God will comfort and strengthen our fellow believers in pain in Nigeria, Sudan, the Congo, South Africa, even Iran and other places I am not much aware of. These honourable Christians face death and are being killed for the sake of Christ. {{2 Corinthians 6:4-5 “but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in hunger”}}
Persecution has risen in the west. I am aware of it in my own nation and it is possibly even worse in the United Kingdom.
We won’t continue with the ills we face but we will look at the way Jesus cares for us. How can there be joy when we re in sorrow? Yes, it can be so. Our spirits rejoice though mentally and physically, we suffer. Here are a few lines from the poem about what God does –
“I will never leave you struggling”
“I will send the Holy Spirit,”
“Comfort He will give to bear it”
“In the hurt, His care is more”
“Jesus serves us with compassion”
God has many promises for us. We must walk in faith and remain close. Hold on to this promise – {{Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?”}}
My hope is that this poem may be a comfort for you/us in our lives in a more complex and difficult world. The world press and News outlets are constantly degrading Israel using Hamas propaganda, but they draw no attention to martyred and suffering Christians in a lot of countries in the world. The evil world press is anti-Christian, and remember Satan is the prince and power of the air – airwaves!
May the Lord bless and strengthen all the suffering and persecuted Christians. Amen
==========================================================
JOY FOR SORROW - CARE IN HURT
There’s a joy and there’s contentment
In the midst of suffering pain.
When trials of life may fast augment,
There’s a peace that we can gain.
=======================
We are made with strong emotion,
And in trials we often fear.
We must then dismiss the notion,
That our Saviour is not near.
=======================
I will never leave you struggling
In life’s conflicts all alone.
There’s a time in sorrow’s learning,
You will learn no more to groan.
=======================
I will send the Holy Spirit,
When from you I do depart.
Comfort He will give to bear it,
For those hurts that break your heart.
=======================
This life finds us facing sorrow,
Like all other human kind.
Pain today or trials tomorrow:
Hurts and conflicts - yes, we’ll find.
=======================
But once there, we have assurance;
Of His presence, can be sure.
No! Nothing comes to us by chance.
In the hurt, His care is more!
=======================
Jesus serves us with compassion;
Pleads for us before the throne.
Our Lord’s love is not by ration;
Always He assists His own.
=======================
Come to Me you heavy laden -
Those of you who burdens bear;
I am He, your heart will gladden -
Shelter under My own care.
=======================
24 April, 1998 R E Ferguson 8-7-8-7