Sermon Central
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O Joy That Seeks Me Through Pain
Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it
Illustration: Fanny Crosby was visiting Mr. W. H. Doane, in his home in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were talking together about the nearness of God, as the sun was setting and evening shadows were gathering around them. The subject so impressed the well-known hymn-writer, that before retiring she had written the words to this hymn, which has become one of the most useful she has ever written. The music by Mr. Doane so well fitted the words that the hymn has become a special favorite wherever the Gospel Hymns are known.
Sankey, p. 325
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain
Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
Refrain
O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!
Refrain
There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.
Refrain
7. REFOCUSES - We can praise God that He uses pain, hurt and suffering to help us focus on what are God’s priorities rather than our own selfish concerns. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) When we are sick it forces us to rethink our motivations, priorities and resources. We can praise God that He uses hardships to refocus our minds and hearts on the fact that when there are shortages He tells us to Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and then all these things will be added to us. Then we will be less apt to worry about what we think we need today or tomorrow, for each day has enough troubles of its own that He allows us to bear up under as His grace is always sufficient." (Matt 6:33,34; 2 Cor 12:9,10)
8. REBUILDS - He uses sickness, hardship and distress to tear away some of the aspects of our lives that are not necessary. As a result of enduring His trials, Job enjoyed the rebuilding of God in His life so that the Bible says He prayed for His friends and then became more prosperous than before entering in to the time of trial. Allow the Lord to reconstruct certain aspects of our thinking, behavior and emotions so that you are more like the Master as He knows that without this rebuilding you will not be able to stand up to the trials that are ahead.
8. RESOLVES PROBLEMS - We can praise God that He brings resolution to the most difficult of situations. God knows how to find a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways that we cannot see. He will make a way for you. He promised, "There has no temptation that has taken you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able but will with the temptation also provide a way of escape so that you will be able to bear it." (I Cor. 10:13) Count on the Lord providing you with an escape hatch before you drown under the raging seas that appear to threaten your welfare.
