For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.  Romans 8:24-25

I love music.   One of my first memories is being cradled by my father as he sang me to sleep…something I would later do with my own children and occasionally with my grandchildren.  Music energizes me.  It helps me refocus when my thoughts start spiraling out of control.  Aside from God’s handiwork that has brought to my knees in worship, few things stir my soul like great music.  In that light, I’d like focus my discussion around “When My Heart is Torn Asunder” by Phil Wickham.  It is a song that has blessed me on many occasions.  I’ve certainly known a fair number of personal tragedies in my life time: a nasty car accident in college that took the life of a friend, job losses in various forms, broken relationships, the care and deaths of my mother, father-in-law and father and, of course, my illness with its various battles to name a few.  In them all, God has been my comfort and used them to teach me to think more like He does.  It’s been a long drawn out process that is not yet complete.  However, each advancement brings me closer to Him and gives me hope for the next installment and a greater sense of peace amidst the battle.  It’s a process that we all must experience because as I Corinthians 2:14 tells us “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”  Since sin entered the world, our natural inclination is one that seeks to emote and evaluate based on experience and knowledge rather than accepting the truths of scripture…we prefer to rely on what we see and touch rather than having faith in what we cannot see.  In God’s strength, we must overcome this in order to enjoy true comfort, hope, joy and peace.

When tragedy strikes we tend to focus two things: our anguish or loss and the sense that we will always feel this way.  We are often so broken that the world looks bleak and we find it hard to keep moving.  Yet, in those moments, God invites us to come to Him for help.  Sometimes He “rights the wrong” as in a new job, restored relationship or healing; sometimes He gives us understanding and maturity to look beyond the circumstances to what awaits us.  Psalm 103:13-14 says: “Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.  For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”  So no matter what form it takes, our loving God lifts us up, takes our burden, sustains us, encourages us and restores our sense of peace…peace that surpasses understanding.

As children of God, we can rely on God’s grace when we truly seek to serve Him (Psalm 84:11 and John 1:16).  In Christ both truth and grace were given to us (John 1:17).  By grace we have received forgiveness and reconciliation with God the Father (Ephesians 2:8-9).  In affliction, God’s grace is always extended to us (Proverbs 3:34).  Whether in salvation or affliction, we can count on God’s grace to truly turn our mourning to dancing.  And through God’s gracious acts towards us and the truth of scripture, we learn that the suffering of this life will not last long, but life with God will last for eternity.

Because of Adam’s sin, we received a sinful nature, suffering and death; but in Christ we have been made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).  We are promised that He will return (John 14:1-6), we are promised a new heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:10-13 and Revelation 21:1) and we are promised the enjoyment of living with Christ for eternity (John 14:1-6).  We can believe these promises because God is faithful and cannot lie (Hebrews 10:23 and Hebrews 6:18)

Here’s the end of the matter.  We have:  a compassionate, loving God who reaches down into the depths of our despair and lifts us up, sustains us and restores our peace; the grace of God through Christ our Lord which redeems us, cleanses us and meets our needs in times of affliction; and life in Christ and the promise of eternity with Him.  These things that we enjoy now and are promised in the future are the source of: our hope in times of suffering; the joy that can rise above the tears we shed; the peace that surpasses understanding in all our difficult circumstance; and the evidence of the love that conquers our fears.  Because we are alive in Christ we understand that even though our current bodies are dying, we will live for eternity with Him.

This is truly our comfort in affliction.  Whatever difficulty you may be facing, turn to God as the source of your hope.  Allow Him to lift you up, dry your tears and replace your despair with peace.  Look beyond the suffering to the glory that is before you when you are clothed in righteousness and abide with God for eternity.  Draw on that hope and know that the despair will pass and your mourning will be turned to dancing.  If you are currently in a peaceful place, reach out to those who are hurting to be a vessel of God’s grace and encouragement because we are all the body of Christ.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

When my heart
Is torn asunder
And my world
Just falls apart
Lord You put
Me back together
And lift me up
To where You are

There is hope
Beyond the suffering
Joy beyond the tears
Peace in every tragedy
Love that conquers fear
I have found redemption
In the blood of Christ
My body might be dying
But I’ll always be alive

You have turned
Mourning to dancing
You have covered me with grace
The struggle here
May last a moment
But life with You
Will last always

When the age
Of death is over
And this world
Has been reborn
I’ll be there
Beside my Savior
This is our grace
And rich reward