For This I Have Jesus

When Rachel and I were involved in church youth work fifty years ago I met Graham Kendrick. It was an event for church youth leaders in Derby. I remember a humble, warm, personable man, who was expressing his faith in songs that were accessible and authentic. I often return to his songs. This week I was reminded of ‘For this I have Jesus’.

For the joys and for the sorrows
The best and worst of times
For this moment, for tomorrow
For all that lies behind
Fears that crowd around me
For the failure of my plans
For the dreams of all I hope to be
The truth of what I am… For this I have Jesus

Life’s never straightforward It’s full of mixed experiences – good and bad, excitement and despair. Sometimes it seems that expectations in life – for Christians especially – are all positive. Life should be, can be, full of love, hope and victorious success. This is neither helpful, nor is it the reality of everyday life.

I love the Bible’s catalogue of faithful but flawed characters. This morning I was reading of Jonah – an effective prophet and preacher, who prayed and knew his God in his darkest hour… but was angry, sulking, self-centred and constantly thinking that he knew best…

For the tears that flow in secret
In the broken times
For the moments of elation
Or the troubled mind
For all the disappointments
Or the sting of old regrets
All my prayers and longings
That seem unanswered yet… For this I have Jesus…

Some Christian hymns and songs are broad, theological, speak of truth, God’s greatness and His love for the world. Graham Kendrick’s words are, realistic, honest and intensely personal.

Each time I return to ‘For this I have Jesus’ there’s something going on in my life that it points to – a troubled memory, a damaged relationship, a personal failure, an unanswered prayer.  I pause. What is sometimes hidden comes into the open.

For the weakness of my body
The burdens of each day
For the nights of doubt and worry
When sleep has fled away
Needing reassurance
And the will to start again
A steely-eyed endurance
The strength to fight and win… For this I have Jesus…

I’m reminded again that it’s not about me – what I can achieve, what I can cope with. It’s about Jesus. I don’t need to depend on my own resources to deal with past disappointments and regrets, present problems and challenges or future anxieties and uncertainties. For each situation I have Jesus – and He is enough.