Abba's Dearly Beloved

Christ’s Hope for the Lamenting Heart

In anguish stands my soul as sigh I must
As my eyes behold one thousand reflections of fractured weariness
A broken reflection shattered on the rocks of weathered trust
My heart wrenches in sorrow; a tender shoot exposed to nature’s stress For stabbed am I by the memory of what life has thrown
“I never expected my walk to lead me through this place,
The valley walls get steeper and darker have they grown
What am I doing here? Hope threatens to leave without trace.”

Bruised I feel and wearied by disappointment of present circumstance
As comparison or inadequacy, sickness or tragedy upon life’s road
Becomes for my soul an anguished diet that continues to advance
And confronted I feel with this journey’s lonely turn now strode
As a fragile vessel, looking at my very self, I dare to ask
Where is my faithful companion on whom I rely?
What is going on oh dear Father God, is bestowing hope now a forgotten task?
I never planned this to happen or occur so Why?

Here at this unfolding scene, engulfing silence is replaced by a voice I hear
“Beloved child, my treasured possession, precious are you in my sight
Staring as you do at the things that make your heart break and fear
Have not escaped my notice, nor been outside my light
Such painful episodes in your journey you have not born alone
For I have not only carried them with you but held you
I am neither deaf to your cries nor unknowing of your loss and groan
I am never an absent Shepherd and my faithful love for you is true

For I am the lamb of God am acquainted well with afflictions sting too
And the visible scars I still carry are but a small part of my suffering passion.
You do not know the depths of how I feel about all those who suffer including you
Not one is either unknown to me or is beyond my fierce and enduring compassion
The very dregs of pain, sickness and sinful shame of all, was the weight I bore at the cross
So do not despair that your trial has not been known to the one on Heaven’s throne
For never are you separated from your saviour child, from me you are not an orphan lost
I am the Alpha and the Omega and dearly beloved before me you are fully known

So turn and look to me in the difficulty in which you now stand
The discomfort of the wilderness, deep wells of intimacy that elsewhere are unbeknown
As on Emmaus’ road, I tread this rocky road with you, holding you firmly by my sustaining hand
Take heart child, my light will surely dawn and from darkness and despair will be thrown
In remembering who I am, you remind yourself of who you truly are in me
I am your perfect high priest, passionate intercessor, loving saviour who set you free
My power is perfected in weakness paving the way for you to see
That I am the greatest lover of your soul with a love rooted in permanency