Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw Near

As we often say at Faith Fellowship, songs are like sermons that you won’t forget by Sunday afternoon. That is why we want to let you know about a wide range of songs that we hope will stir your affections for Christ and encourage you throughout the week.

VERSE 1
Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near,
Your Savior’s gracious promise hear;
His faithful Word you can believe:
That as your days your strength shall be.

VERSE 2
Your faith is weak, your foes are strong,
And if the conflict should be long,
The Lord will make the tempter flee
That as your days your strength shall be.

REFRAIN
So, sing with joy, afflicted one;
The battle’s fierce, but the victory’s won!
God shall supply all that you need;
Yes, as your days your strength shall be.

VERSE 3
Should persecution rage and flame,
Still trust in your Redeemer’s name.
In fiery trials you shall see
That as your days your strength shall be.

VERSE 4
When called to bear your weighty cross
Or sore affliction, pain, or loss,
Or deep distress or poverty,
Still as your days your strength shall be.

It was Connie Dever who wrote the modern refrain in recent years and John Fawcett who wrote the original lyrics in 1772 when he chose to remain as pastor to his small country church in Yorkshire instead of taking the position at the larger, more influential Carter’s Lane Baptist Church in London.

In his book Singers and Songs of the Church , Josiah Miller writes of that time, “The farewell sermon was preached, the wagons were loaded, when love and tears prevailed, and Dr. Fawcett sacrificed the attraction of a London pulpit to the affection of his poor but devoted flock.”

Fawcett chose to stay with his church and continue to point their affections toward Jesus. Perhaps he chose this path because he knew from experience that in affliction and suffering it was Jesus, not the fame and recognition of greater stage, who gives strength for every day.

Consider meditating on these lyrics today.

Whatever affliction you are going through right now, the battle you are fighting may be fierce but remember that genuine strength comes from the the victory Jesus has already won at the cross.

A new job may be just the thing to get you out of the affliction of your current occupation. The companionship of a husband or wife desired by the single person is indeed a good gift for the affliction of loneliness. Losing that 40 lbs will indeed make you more healthy and fitting into those pants again is worthwhile and satisfying to the affliction of being overweight.

Just be careful not to put your hope solely on these things and things like them. In the end, even good goals and gifts don’t have staying power to give lasting joy in a cosmic battle. Look beyond the gifts to the Giver and beyond the goals to the One who gives you the grit to achieve them.

God has promised to supply all that you need today and every day.

He loved you to the cross and back so sing with joy afflicted one.