Welcome to my Friends and Fellowship Serenity Summer Soiree. Each week during the months of June, July, and August plan to enjoy meeting some of my favorite writing friends and fellowship around the goodness of the Lord. This week, we are encouraged by my amazing friend, Lauri Hogle, as she reminds us serenity in suffering comes only when we hold tight to Jesus.
Welcome Lauri!
The dictionary defines serenity as a sense of calm, peace, or tranquility. It’s a state of being “untroubled.” I’ve had many summers of trouble, and medical professionals tell me that this summer will hold worsening trouble. How can I find serenity during my trouble, in the midst of suffering?
I now have a body that can’t sit or stand upright unless I exercise into literal darkness, with numbed limbs going weak, heart rate plummeting, and fainting into unconsciousness. And yet, this same exercise brings on immense pain with progressive spinal damage and a brainstem that is falling out of my skull into the spinal cord, threatening my earthly life.
As rehab therapists and doctors have said, “Your brain is too big for your skull” alongside “Gravity is not your friend.” It’s caused continual trouble and many difficult decisions in the past year.
At the same time, I’m not home with Jesus yet, so I know I’m still on earth to love God and love others, bearing fruit in a body that is fine one moment and completely disabled the next, without warning.
It’s all brought emotional and spiritual “trouble,” a replay of trauma when these symptoms first appeared in the 90’s. It feels like a ticking time-bomb, outside of anything I can control or manage.
But maybe that’s the key! This explosion of worsening symptoms has felt far more tranquil since it began 32 years ago!
I can honestly say, with awe and wonder, that our Lord and Savior has quickly infused me with His serenity during the scary moments and grief-filled losses of this continual suffering.
Instead of my grasping for control, God has granted me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, giving me serenity in Jesus as the only way, truth, and life.
If you too are suffering this summer, I pray that what I call a “praise interruption” will be His gift of calmed peace to you as you interrupt your suffering by praying these Scriptures and hymn with me.
For this mini moment of worship is exactly how He’s granted me serenity during years of suffering, beloved sister in Christ.
Serene in Our Lord’s Abiding Love
“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans. 5:1 (ESV, emphasis added)
Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
(“Have Thine Own Way, Lord,” Pollard, A. A., 1906)
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.
Serene in My Loving God’s Perfect Plan for Me
Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
Mold me and make me after thy will…
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”
while I am waiting, yielded and still.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Serene Because of My Dependent and Deepened Need for Jesus
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Serene in My Union with Jesus
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27 (ESV)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
Fill with thy Spirit ’til all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!
Serene in the Joy of Glorifying You in This Suffering, Lord Jesus Christ
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
“Lord of peace and abiding love, please give my brother or sister in Christ Your peace, at all times and in every way (2 Thessalonians 3:16). If their suffering is affecting their serenity, speak to them through Your Word as You quiet them with Your love. Stir them to set their mind on the Spirit for life and peace (Romans 8:6). Give them Your peace, which supernaturally surpasses all human understanding, guarding their heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7), bringing them a deepened and intimate serenity in knowing and loving Jesus.“
“For He is their source of peace now and forever, as their Savior. Thank You for Your washing, molding, helping, healing, living, and “holding over” serenity as You accomplish Your beautiful way for both of us, in the midst of earthly trouble. Help us to trust You in each day You’ve appointed for us, until the blessed day that we see Jesus Christ face to face, our Prince of Peace. In His matchless name, Amen.“
Lauri A. Hogle, PhD, music therapist, music educator, and church musician, heads Singing Christ’s Hope, a nonprofit ministry found at laurihogle.com. Her words and musical offerings have touched lives across the globe.
Lauri’s prayer journal books, Near to God and Singing the Gospel to Job are complemented by weekly playlist gifts for suffering Christian women.
Her lifelong passion is to glorify God through music, teaching, research, and writing. By God’s grace in healing, her greatest joy is as wife, mother, and Nana.
Lauri,
Suffering takes on a whole new meaning when I read about yours. I’m deeply sorry for the pain and struggle you are experiencing. Your words glorify Him and brought comfort to me in my own challenges today. Thank you for your faithful witness.
Blessings to you,
Tammy
Dearest Tammy,
Our sufferings are all so difficult, aren’t they? My heart is heavy that you are facing challenges right now too. We are all just running this race of endurance together, with our eyes fixed on Jesus, I’m so thankful this was God’s gift of comfort to you, for my desire is to live out 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. He has so gently and powerfully comforted me and it’s a deep joy to share that same comfort from His Word with you. May He hold you fast in the trials you face.
In Christ,
Lauri
Dearest Sister Lauri, My heart breaks each time I learn something new about your physical suffering.
Each time that I have the privilege to read the words that you have written or comments you have made or songs that you have shared – to lift our souls before the King of Kings. I am transformed by having my suffering washed with a healing balm. You have personally taught me so much about worship. I will always be indebted to you with all of my heart. I lift you and your family to Jesus as I 🎶 sing: My God, Oh my God, how great Thou art 🎵
Thank you for your ministry to all of us.
Dearest Kim,
Your encouragement comes to me on a particularly hard day, physically. I know you understand this personally. Dear sister, once again, the manna of God’s Word carries us as we come to Him and sing, “Every hour I need Thee.” And He provides, doesn’t He? Our hearts melt in His tender care and steadfast love on display through Jesus Christ…and what He did for us on the cross. The gospel reality and truth carries our gaze to Christ alone, once again. And then, it becomes, “How Can I Keep From Singing?” How I pray that you and me and every reader will find great solace and comfort from the King of kings and Lord of lords, as we look to our eternal hope in Him. For this? It becomes tangible and rock-solid hope in the worst of our earthly pain. How Great Thou Art!!
With much prayer and love in Christ,
Lauri
Dear Lauri, that you can minister to the depth that you have here is sign of God’s amazing grace in your life. Your words will touch many who live with unending pain. I am in awe of His work through you.
In my deepest darkness, all I could whisper was the name of Jesus. He is all we have. And when all is said and done, He is all we need.
Thank you, Linda for taking the time to read Lauri’s post. She is indeed an amazing woman with a beautiful testimony. God has blessed her beyond measure through the seasons of suffering.
Dear Linda,
On a particularly hard neurological day, I’m in awe of the way God has encouraged me with your words this evening. For you’ve been there, in your own suffering, where it’s nothing more than, “Jesus” on our lips. “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest Name I Know, fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.” This is indeed what it’s like…and you are so right…He is all we need. Thank you for your kind and loving note.
In Christ,
Lauri
Lauri, I will first say, I am so sorry for the suffering you endure. This post is beautiful as you truly have drawn such strength and peace from your walk with the Lord and music. Earlier this morning, I listened to a song which meant so much to me when going through a painful time. Although that is not my experience at this time, the song still remains so special and blesses my soul, moving to me worship our faithful God. May He continue to keep His hand on you, blessing you, and using you for His glory and to the encouragement of many. Thank you, both Lauri and Donna, for sharing this post.
** this is the song I’ve been listening to this morning 🙂 > https://youtu.be/vQhSHIYcKQM
Joanne, thank you for your kind words and taking the time to read Lauri’s post. She is a true blessing and a treasure.
Dear Joanne,
Oh, we do exalt Him! For He is exalted on high! Jesus is the reigning Lord of lords and King of kings…and He is our Savior! How amazing is God’s grace to us that He would bring us to Himself as His daughters! On the hardest days, singing praise to our glorious God of steadfast love has completely fueled trust and endurance. Clinging to His Word of truth…such a gift to us. But He also uses the encouragement of sisters in Christ like you and I’m so thankful for your words and blessing. May God be glorified and enjoyed, forever, by each of us who seek serenity in our suffering. God bless you!
In Christ,
Lauri