So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2.7-10)
It’s easy to praise God in prosperity. But what do we do when we’re suffering? Job shows us that we should trust God at all times, not just in good times. I recently tried to capture this in a song:
AS LONG AS YOU ARE GLORIFIED
SHALL I TAKE FROM YOUR HAND YOUR BLESSINGS
YET NOT WELCOME ANY PAIN?
SHALL I THANK YOU FOR DAYS OF SUNSHINE
YET GRUMBLE IN DAYS OF RAIN?
SHALL I LOVE YOU IN TIMES OF PLENTY
THEN LEAVE YOU IN DAYS OF DROUGHT?
SHALL I TRUST WHEN I REAP A HARVEST
BUT WHEN WINTER WINDS BLOW, THEN DOUBT?
O, LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN ME
IN YOUR LOVE I WILL ABIDE
O, I LONG FOR NOTHING ELSE AS LONG
AS YOU ARE GLORIFIED
ARE YOU GOOD ONLY WHEN I PROSPER?
AND TRUE ONLY WHEN I’M FILLED?
ARE YOU KING ONLY WHEN I’M CAREFREE?
AND GOD ONLY WHEN I’M WELL?
YOU ARE GOOD WHEN I’M POOR AND NEEDY
YOU’RE TRUE WHEN I’M PARCHED AND DRY
YOU STILL REIGN IN THE DEEPEST VALLEY
YOU’RE STILL GOD IN THE DARKEST NIGHT
O, LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN ME
IN YOUR LOVE I WILL ABIDE
O, I LONG FOR NOTHING ELSE AS LONG
AS YOU ARE GLORIFIED
SO QUIET MY RESTLESS HEART, QUIET MY RESTLESS HEART
QUIET MY RESTLESS HEART, IN YOU.
Isn’t it amazing how the gospel so changes us that what matters most is the glory of Jesus, and not our own comfort? Let us be a people who overflow with praise and thanks, not only when we receive blessing from his hand, but when we receive hardship from his hand, trusting that even then he is working for our good and his glory.
NOTE: Sovereign Grace Music has graciously agreed to let us give away this song for free. DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
(Lyrics from the CD “Come Weary Saints”, copyright Sovereign Grace Music)
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this post, loved it!
Thanks for making the song available!
Thank you for this song. It has been very helpful and encouraging to me when I am suffering and struggling. (That whole cd has been helpful actually.) It is a helpful reminder that even though our cirmustances change, our God is always the same.
Mark, when I first got this cd, i skipped this song every time.
i didn’t want to acknowledge that God was sovereign over both the good times and painful ones. it didn’t seem right or good or caring or loving. I wanted only the God who was blessing me and giving me easy paths to travel.
but i’m really grateful for this song because it assaults those sinful accusations against God with the truth – that in every situation He is sovereign, through every trial He continues to hold me. it gives me a God that is greater than any hardship and in that, i’ve found great comfort.
my favorite part of this song is when you start talking about who God is… good when I’m poor and needy, true when I’m parched and dry… He still reigns in the darkest valley, He’s still God in the darkest night. i’ve found those words are the only reason my restless heart can find quiet.
thanks for this song. there are still times in my selfishness that i hate to listen to it and find the words extremely painful to say or sing, but it gives me a reason to hope and points me to my God – the One I can rejoice in through every trial.
Mark – That song is one of my favorites from the recent SGM offerings. It is so convicting!
When may we expect a post on the Steeler victory? Just wondering …
Tim
Nice song, BTW I’m going through Job on my blog…
Only slightly relevant to your post but I am looking for new Christian Artists/Songs in the Nashville area – here’s my craigslist ad
http://nashville.craigslist.org/muc/1014182153.html
God bless,
-jim
You’re welcome, Boaly.
Wendy,
The doctrine that God is unchanging is one of the most encouraging ones I know. What a comfort.
Hey Emily,
I commend you for your faith in “a God that is greater than any hardship” – this truth of God’s sovereignty is a bedrock. Continue to hold fast to it! You won’t be disappointed. Jesus saved me over 30 years ago and he has always been faithful.
Hey Jim,
Thanks. I’ll check out your ad and blog…
Hey Mark!
Great post, I was just listening to this song recently and was just thinking how appropriate it was!
I’m becoming more and more convinced that in the winter times of our lives God wants to reach in and give us not just the material things that we need but the very thing we need above all, and that is Himself. He wants to reach into where we are and make Himself known to us in ways that would probably be overlooked if things were going great. He is so very faithful and am so thankful that once again the Lord has spoken through The Blazing Center! Thanks so much for posting this today, and let us abide in His love and may He be glorified above all else!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Ron Reffett
Amen, Ron!
And what could satisfy us more than Jesus himself? I’m sure we’d miss out on the most significant blessings in our lives if all was easy all the time. Thanks for commenting!
I wanted to chime in here that this whole album has been a blessing for our family. This is my first visit to your blog. My son recommended that I come on over, so I’ve subscribed and will be a regular reader now.
It has been both hard and healthy to listen to this album (and this song) lately. In September last year, our 14 year old daughter Emily was murdered. We’d bought the Come Weary Saints CD about a month before, so God was preparing us.
Emily’s walk with God was sweet, so we have that great comfort, but the songs from this CD have been a lifeline for us during our grieving. Praise God for your part in SGM music!
Terry –
I grieved for you and your family when I heard about your daughter. I simply can’t imagine going through what your family has endured.
I’m so grateful that God has given you comfort through some of the songs that have been written. Thank you for your incredible example of faith in the midst of a trial that I can’t even imagine.
May God continue to give you sustaining grace in the midst of your grief. Thank you for your encouragement.
-Stephen
This was a song that helped carry me through the loss of my twin daughters. I have finally been able to write about it a little and did a post here:
http://goodtimesdelgadostyle.blogspot.com/2009/02/soundtrack-for-suffering.html
Soli Deo Gloria!
jason d.
Dear Terry,
Your tragedy brought tears to my eyes as I read your words. I can’t fathom the depth of your anguish. I only hope that I can faintly imitate you should I ever have to suffer something as horrific as you have.
I’m deeply humbled that God would use our feeble efforts to encourage you in any way. Thank you for your kind words.
Mark
Jason,
Your post on your daughters was so beautiful and so glorifying to Jesus. I was brought to tears reading it. As I mentioned to Terry above, I can’t imagine the pain you and your wife and family have endured, and I only hope I can glorify God like you have should I go through anything so painful.
Thank you,
Mark