BE STILL, MY SOUL!

BE STILL, MY SOUL

 

New Year’s Day, 2016. The weather is clear and cold after a series of rain and snow.  As we look ahead to the year ahead, it is a path untrod, except by our Lord who has taken that path ahead of us, and He knows what lies down that path.

 

Will it be a year of pain and sickness? I, myself, have had two years of such, and look forward to a blessed year ahead. I look forward to returning strength and returning to the ministry God has given to me, the love of our precious seniors in nursing homes, foster homes and shut-ins. I look forward to once again laying hands of the sick and bringing hope into desperate hearts. There are many out there who are truly feeling hopeless at the beginning this year.

 

For some of you out there it will be a year of heartache and despair, some are fearful of the terror in our streets, schools and malls. Some of you may lose loved ones this year, or have recently lost a precious one. Christmas is a hard time for many, remembering past Christmases with their loved ones. Some of you are totally alone in this world now, and long for someone to come and just give you a hug and spend some time hearing your stories and enjoying your presence.

 

I pray that your year will be a year of joy, joy in the Lord. That you will fill His presence and His love in spite of any circumstances that may come into your life. Your life may be filled with cloudy days, but the Son is shining behind those clouds of grief or sorrow.

 

I am a lover of old hymns and their stories, and the verses that speak to our hearts. This song, “Be Still, My Soul is a new one to me, as I heard it in church last Sunday. I found the verses to speak to my heart, and wanted to know more about the history of this lovely song, that speaks to God’s people today, in troubled times.

 

It reassures His people that God is on our side no matter what lies ahead. It tells us that God does guide the future, and God stills the grieving heart. And it reassures us, as born again believers in our Lord Jesus Christ that the hour is getting late and someday we will be home with Him where all tears are wiped away.  Here is the story of that song:

 

“About a hundred years after the time of Martin Luther 1483-1546), Europe was in sad shape. The continent was racked by the Thirty Years’ War, which pitted Catholics against Protestants. The Lutheran Church had lapsed into formalism and dead orthodoxy. People had stopped going to church.

 

Then God raised up what is known as the Pietist movement, a movement that was characterized by music, personal holiness, and missionary zeal. In the midst of this time of turmoil and discouragement, Katharina von Schlegel noticed the verse in Psalm 46 that says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

 

As God spoke to her, she wrote this great hymn. Whatever your circumstances, whatever your problems, you can find comfort in these great words.” (“Hymns” by Petersen).

 

BE STILL, MY SOUL

 

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 wind still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 

Be still, my soul, though 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 sorrows 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 going, 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.  (Catharina von Schlegel -1697-?)

 

I call to you, my dear friends, no matter what lies ahead in our walk with the Lord, don’t forget that “He will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:8).  He has the future in His hands, He sees the end from the beginning, and no matter who is President, He is still King! Praise the Lord!  And He still calms the storms in our lives, like He calmed the waves on the Sea of Galilee, “Peace, Be Still!”  And in the times of grief and tears, He comes to sooth our sorrows and fears.

 

And yes, the hour is hastening on, as the song says. Whether we go home to be with Jesus, or He comes to call His people home, we will forever be with Him, where all tears will be wiped away, and we will be forever with Him. I just pray that you have made that decision to accept Christ as your own personal Savior, as you don’t know what the next hour, or day will hold for you. Make that decision before it is too late. He is waiting for you. Then whatever the circumstances you can say “Be Still, My Soul,” and just rest in Him.

 

Blessings in Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon