I recently wrote two articles on
suffering. This week, I would like to share two poems about suffering with you. The Word of God offers much encouragement to those suffering. All believers experience seasons of suffering. Yet even during dark seasons, we have joy in the Lord. Many of the Psalms are songs of lament and
prayers that demonstrate bringing all of one’s burdens before the Lord. It is the Lord’s will that we are honest with
God about our sufferings and turn to him for refuge. It is also good to be honest with our brethren
about our struggles and sufferings (Romans 12:15, Galatians 6:2.) The Lord uses
his church to encourage one another and build up one another (1 Thessalonians
5:11)
Psalm 88 reminded me that we are to cast all our cares
on the Lord. I held off on posting this
poem for a while but decided to share it in the hopes that it will help others.
“Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.” Psalm 88:1-3
Sleep has
departed me
I water my
bed with tears
My soul feels dry
I thirst for you
My soul feels dry
I thirst for you
I’m choking,
my lips
Rendered
speechless
Thankfully
you hear
My thoughts
Will winter
last forever?
A lifetime
perhaps
Lifetimes go
by in the
Blink of an
eye
I long for
spring
You alone
know all
My troubles
You make my
burdened
Heart to
sing
As I wrote the following poem, I considered Romans 8:17-18: “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Trudging
through chasms of suffering,
Walking
through the valley of death
Crushed down
by darkness,
Darkness
that’s merely a shadow-
A shadow of Christ’s
sufferings
The Chosen
One, a man of sorrows
The
situation is seemingly dire
Feeling alone
in a moment, yet not forsaken
My eyes are
affixed on a glimmer of light
In bleak
dark hours
His sweet
communion abounds
Bestowing
peace amidst the storm
Giving grace
to endure and carry the cross,
Sufferings
not worth comparing
To the glory that shall be revealed to us
To the glory that shall be revealed to us
Praise God
from whom all blessings flow
*the last line of the poem
is a line from the Common Doxology
Come to me, all
who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle
and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
P.S. I found Matthew Henry's commentary on these two verses helpful. biblehub.com offers his commentary. I have found Biblehub a helpful resource in my studies. In addition to the commentaries, it shows Scripture in several translations and provides cross references.
