Reminders

A couple of weeks ago, we had the privilege of gathering to worship with many friends at a previous church ministry. We always enjoy returning "home" to see familiar faces and catch up on what is going on in the lives of others. As the service closed, a particular song was sung...a well known, well traveled classic..."Be Still My Soul".

Sometimes, the road that God allows us to go down is challenging...that would describe our road lately. But the truth remains that God is still at work and He is with us each step of the journey. As I listened (because I could not get anything to come from my mouth without tears), I thought on the powerful concepts contained in the words of this song. Concepts like "the Lord is on my side"; "patiently wait in difficult times"; "leave to God to order and provide"; "He will remain faithful"; "He guides in the future as He has in the past"; "don't let anything shake your confidence in Him"; "on the dark path we understand better His love and His heart"; "someday a better time and place is coming"; "praise needs to begin now and be directed to Him". Great concepts that I needed to be reminded of and hold tightly to.

Read (and maybe sing) these words for yourself right here:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. 

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
 
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
 
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
 
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Public Domain