"Hope is ____________ confidence of God's _____________ glory based on Christ's _____________ work."
We've heard this a lot lately. Did you get the blanks correct? If not, do good to your soul and relisten to THIS sermon, followed by THIS one.
The past two Sundays have simply not allowed enough time to sing all the songs that might help build assurance of hope. In God's providence, though, this was my week to post a blog. Let these songs and hymns--from the 1600s to the present--mature your perspective on suffering and bring to mind how meticulously you've been loved. Slow down to consider how these messages have been and are true of your every joy and sorrow.
All My Hope on God Is Founded
1679, Joachim Neander
All my hope on God is founded;
He doth still my trust renew,
Me through change and chance he guideth,
Only good and only true.
God unknown, he alone
Calls my heart to be his own.
Pride of man and earthly glory,
Sword and crown betray his trust;
What with care and toil he buildeth,
Tow'r and temple fall to dust.
But God's pow'r, hour by hour,
Is my temple and my tow'r.
God's great goodness aye endureth,
Deep his wisdom, passing thought:
Splendor, light, and life attend him,
Beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore from his store
Newborn worlds rise and adore.
Daily doth th'almighty Giver
Bounteous gifts on us bestow;
His desire our souls delighteth,
Pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand at his hand;
Joy doth wait on his command.
Still from man to God eternal
Sacrifice of praise be done,
High above all praises praising
For the gift of Christ, his Son.
Christ doth call one and all:
Ye who follow shall not fall.
1752, Katharina von Schlegel
Be still, my soul:
The Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently
The cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God
To order and provide;
In every change
He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul:
Your best, Your heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways
Leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul:
Your God will undertake
To guide the future
As he has the past.
Your hope, your confidence
Let nothing shake;
All now mysterious
Shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul:
The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them
While he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul:
When dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened
In the vale of tears,
Then shall you better
Know his love, his heart,
Who comes to soothe
Your sorrow and your fears.
Be still, my soul:
Your Jesus can repay
From his own fullness
All he takes away.
Be still, my soul:
The hour is hastening on
When we shall be
Forever with the Lord,
When disappointment,
Grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot,
Loves purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul:
When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed
We shall meet at last.
Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting
1876, Jean Sophia Pigott
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon thee,
As thy beauty fills my soul,
For by the transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.
Oh, how great thy loving-kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
Oh, how marvelous thy goodness
Lavished on me!
Yes, I rest in thee, Beloved,
Know what wealth of grace is thine,
Know thy certainty of promise
And have made it mine.
Simply trusting thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold thee as thou art,
And thy love, so pure,
So changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed.
Ever lift thy face upon me
As I work and wait for thee;
Resting 'neath thy smile,
Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with thy grace.
God Leads Us Along
1903, George A. Young
In shady, green pastures,
So rich and so sweet,
God leads his dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow
Bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads his dear children along.
Some through the waters,
Some through the flood,
Some through the fire,
But all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow,
But God gives a song,
In the night season
And all the day long.
Sometimes on the mount
Where the sun shines so bright,
God leads his dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley,
In the darkest of night,
God leads his dear children along.
Though sorrows befall us
And Satan oppose,
God leads his dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer,
Defeat all our foes;
God leads his dear children along.
Come to Jesus (Rest in Him)
2021, Jordan Kauflin and Matt Merker
Are you weary, heavy-laden?
Come and lay your burdens down;
Jesus calls you, Jesus draws you;
Rest in him.
He is gentle, He is lowly,
He delights to bring us peace;
Tender Shepherd, mighty Savior:
Rest in him.
How sure his compassion for us!
Oh, how deep is his love;
So, come, come to Jesus
And rest in him.
Are you hopeless, are you guilty?
Caught in shame for all your sin?
He pursues you to forgive you;
Rest in him.
He has paid for every failure,
Mercy flows in endless streams;
Come and follow, freedom calls you:
Rest in him.
Are you waiting in your sorrows
For the broken world to heal?
He is coming, soon returning;
Rest in him.
We will see him, we will know him,
Oh, what heights of grace revealed;
Trust in Jesus, he will keep us
To the end.
I Set My Hope on Jesus
2023, Matt Boswell, Keith Getty, Matt Papa
When this life of trials tests my faith,
I set my hope on Jesus.
When the questions come and doubts remain,
I set my hope on Jesus.
For the deepest wounds that time won't heal,
There's a joy that runs still deeper.
There's a truth that's more than all I feel;
I set my hope on Jesus.
I set my hope on Jesus,
My rock, my only trust,
Who set his heart upon me first;
I set my hope on Jesus.
Though I falter in this war with sin,
I set my hope on Jesus.
When I fail the fight and sink within,
I set my hope on Jesus.
Though the shame would drown me in its sea,
And I dread the waves of justice,
I will cast my life on Calvary;
I set my hope on Jesus.
Though the world call me to leave my Lord,
I set my hope on Jesus.
Though it offer all its vain rewards,
I set my hope on Jesus.
Though this heart of mine be prone to stray,
Give me grace enough to finish.
Till I worship on that final day,
I set my hope on Jesus.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
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