Some may call it a coincidence. I know it was a God thing. It was a Faith Breeze pure and simple: glimpsing God's glory on a stormy Sunday morning.
I greeted the rainy day with a heavy heart. Several family situations swirled in my head and I almost gave in to the temptation to stay in the dry haven of my home. Somewhere in the night, the message to be still and stop worrying had come clear to me. As I sipped my coffee, a hymn started tracking through my brain... does that ever happen to you? There's a very good reason to learn those old hymns of the church in our early life: their solid theology comes through when we need it. This morning the need was simply for peace and comfort. The song was Be Still My Soul.
And I knew in my heart that the only place I would get the uplift I needed today was in my church. I was right. The pastor's message today was Rest. And the closing hymn... you guessed it...
Be Still My Soul. I got the message.
And tonight, I share those beautiful thoughts with you as you close your Sunday and head towards Monday. A woman named Katharina von Schlegel wrote them in 1752, based on Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God...
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change God faithful will remain.
Be still my soul: your best, your heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
To guide the future, as in ages past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
The Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below.