Sorely Pressed and Richly Blessed

I’m sorely pressed and richly blessed;
In righteous, royal robes I’m dressed.
Affliction stole in like a thief in the night,
But Jesus used this to give me sight.

Infirmity robbed me of worldly pleasure,
And through this God taught me of true treasure.
The things of Earth are passing away,
And death will come swiftly, perhaps even today.

By comfort and ease many are blinded,
But by infirmities we can be reminded,
To number our days and consider the soil;
To it we’ll return no matter our toil.

This world and all who dwell within,
Are under the curse of death and sin.
We are all in desperate need of a Savior;
To be shown by God much undeserved favor.

While pain and sickness themselves are bad,
It is good that by them to our minds God might add,
The gracious gift of knowledge of our fall,
And that Christ the Lord has sent forth this call:

“Come to Me all you shackled to sin;
Drink the water of life and, My kingdom, come in.
This world’s passing away but My kingdom’s eternal;
Be raised to life in Me and saved from Hell infernal.”

To make this gift possible Jesus has died,
And rose again after being crucified.
He knows what it is to suffer down here,
And to pull us out the brokenness He drew near.

All who trust Him and still suffer below,
Like me, have reason for joy in sorrow.
The Lord Jesus Christ suffered in our place,
And through faith has given us abounding grace.

This present affliction is light and brief,
Compared to the eternal glory bestowed by our Chief.
Furthermore it has taught me to cling tightly,
To Jesus my Savior, and I say this not lightly.

This pressing brought the blessing of communion with Christ,
Who, to give me life, was sacrificed.
The Lord Jesus is my heart’s delight,
So, I’m grateful for the thief that came in the night.

Affliction stole my ignorance of my chains,
And gave me knowledge of my filthy stains.
It drove me to Jesus by Whom I’ve been set free,
Given eternal life and brought into His family.