09082018 Be Still

Dear Missionary Lady,

I continue to pray for you, and I hope you've had a good week. There is probably never a week when everything goes well, but there's also probably a never a week when everything goes wrong. (Although sometimes the latter seems true!) It is a blessing to be able to reflect on the good things God did: the answers to prayer, the provisions, the demonstrations of His love, the special times in the Word, the right thing said at the right time, and so on. I trust that you had some of those blessings this week.

Today I want to share a hymn that has been special to me over the years because it is packed with so much reassuring truth.

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.

This first stanza really focuses on how God uses every situation for good. When hard things happen, God has not forsaken us. He is right there with us, and He is accomplishing divine purposes. We can endure in those situations when we remember that He is doing His maturing work in us. We are never abandoned in these situations. God is not going anywhere. The One who loves us like no other will accomplish His best purposes, even through things that look utterly hopeless and wholly negative to us. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

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.

The second stanza is a wonderful reassurance that God has not changed and His power has not diminished. God has handled every single situation in the history of the world so far. That isn't going to change now. No situation is ever going to arise that is too difficult for Him to handle. I love those last two lines - the reminder of how Jesus calmed the storm that had left the disciples in fear for their lives. All it took was a word from His mouth. That same powerful God is with us today. He can still accomplish amazing things and can deliver when there seems to be no help in sight. The storm may look dark now, but He will break through the darkness. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

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.

The third stanza reminds us of our blessed hope. Every day brings us closer to the time that we will be united with God in heaven forever. In a single moment, every trial of life will be forgotten; those difficulties will be completely inconsequential, swallowed up by the glories of heaven. There will be no more heartaches, no more tears, no more struggles, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more unmanageable situations. All will be joy and peace. That day is coming. It is coming soon. Until then, we can rest in the care of the One who will make all things right. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

Until then, just continue faithfully day by day. What you do today matters for eternity, so every day that God has you remain where you are is a day that He is using you in His work. He is doing something in you and through you. Never doubt that. Lean on our powerful, wise, and loving God for all that you need, and He will uphold and help you. Take care.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com