The final congregational song last night at church was requested by someone who is going through a series of trials; heartbreaking, mind searching, body aching trials. Wonder why this song is so dear to this person? Click the link to read the lyrics and listen to Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer.
Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labor through the storm.
You have called me to this passage,
and I’ll follow, though I’m worn.May this journey bring a blessing,
May I rise on wings of faith;
And at the end of my heart’s testing,
With Your likeness let me wake.Jesus guide me through the tempest;
Keep my spirit staid and sure.
When the midnight meets the morning,
Let me love You even more.Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go –
And at the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.
This song speaks volumes to that someone because they are desperate. They have come to the end of themselves. They have come to a place where answers seem few. They have come to endure great contradiction from others. They have come to experience loneliness in its deep forms. They have come to the end of their own strength. They have come to pray such a song from their heart because they are desperate. They need Jesus.
How desperate are you this morning in prayer for Jesus? How desperate in prayer are you for your Shepherd to lead you? How desperate in prayer are you today to rise on wings of faith? How desperate are you?
I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:5-6)
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
For further study: The Power of Desperate Prayer
From A Pastor's Heart 
Thank you Pastor C for sharing! This has been my life over the past year and half. When I first started this particular trial, I thought all hope was gone. God’s word and his promises is what got me through this. I can’t imagine where I would be without this; his word. Thank you again!
Hannah and Joseph are two of the most influential characters in the bible for me. To know the depth of “abandonment” they felt for different reasons but also were realistic about their situations and would not shoot for existence or “average”. I heard a great definition of average many years ago that I like to keep in mind. If you want to be “average” then you want to be top of the bottom and the bottom of the top. You want to be the “cream of the crap”.
When the bible says “God remembers you”, it isn’t that he forgot about you. I think it is telling you that he looks upon you with greater compassion because you drew much closer to him than you normally do and he was touched by your efforts and acted on your behalf. I draw closer because there is no other place I would want to be. No other place I feel safe or feel like I can open up more for healing/cleansing. I look at it as an opportunity to allow God to lead me to see with His eyes the things I try to keep secret even though I know He sees them. I have found that when I am desperate to be “remembered” I’m more desperate to reveal these secrets and open to changing and becoming more Christ-like. I guess this means there are times when I too will wait until I hurt enough that I have to change, even though I strive to learn enough that I know how to change so I don’t get to that point.