Be Still, My Soul
“And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” II Chronicles 32:6-8
The other evening, I found myself deep in thought over some troubling circumstances, and right in the midst of all that thinking, the girls began playing a piano/flute duet. The very first words of the hymn came to my mind as the Lord interrupted all my pondering with – “Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side…”
In the above passage, we see King Hezekiah speaking words of comfort to the people as he reminds them WHO is on their side. But, there may be times in our lives when we don’t have a “King Hezekiah” to speak words of comfort to us. It is during those times that we must comfort ourselves as we see David doing in I Samuel 30:6 – “…David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
If you are striving to live for Christ, you may very well be in the midst of a battle at this very moment and with that conflict, there will often come feelings of anxiety. Go ahead. In times like these, it’s “ok” to talk to ourselves…to say, “Be still my soul” as we remind ourselves of our God who has promised to fight our battles for us.
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 blessèd 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.
(Katharina A. von Schlegel)
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
~ Rachel ~