my last post on the book Suffering and the Sovereignty of God has had me thinking for the last couple of days about what helps me in times of strife. i won’t pretend that i’ve suffered in the ways that the contributors of the book have, praise God, and i pray that i never will. but the truth is that i might, someday.

what i’ve found is that i’m often driven to music when i’m down or going through some sort of hardship, and in particular i’ve found that i’m often driven to hymns. in a sense this makes sense. what better way to turn suffering and strife to worship than by crying out to God in song with words that have stood the test of time and have helped so many others in similar struggles. it’s in those times especially that we need to be reminded of God’s goodness, His strength, His love for His people, and the surety of His promises to those who love Him.

perhaps there is no better example of this than Martin Luther’s great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” (the German title being the title of this post). this hymn is such an encouragement to me. it’s such an encouragement to sing that God is a mighty fortress, a fortress that never fails though the evil powers of this world “doth seek to work us woe” and suffering. it’s an encouragement that Christ is on our side and that He will win the battle, “one little word” felling Satan and all his craftiness and deceit. and it’s an encouragement to know that the sufferings we may experience in these days and in these bodies are not forever. an eternal Kingdom awaits those who love the Lord, a Kingdom in which “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

these words have helped me tremendously in recent years and months, and i hope that they will help others who experience tough times as well.

a mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper He, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing:
for still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and, armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing;
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing:
dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name,
from age to age the same,
and He must win the battle.

and though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
the Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure,
one little word shall fell him.

that word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through Him Who with us sideth:
let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.