Be Still, My Soul

The other night my cousin, Megan, and I went to a praise and worship service. One of the songs we sang is a hymn that used to be one of my favorites...I haven't sung it in ages, and then while singing it tonight I remembered why I loved it so much. I actually broke down crying in the middle of it, so I thought I'd share...(I switched the order of some of the verses to the way I would sing them if it were up to me).

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: 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: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future, as He has the past.

Thy hope, they 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: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, loves 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, be leaving, 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.

~Katherina von Schlegel

Often in the rush of life I forget to be still and listen to God. I find myself trying to fix my own problems and figuring out my life my way. It is only when I quite my soul and turn to God that I realize He is on my side and He can fight my battles for me so much better than I ever could on my own, and He alone is faithful through everything.

The second verse I had never heard before, but as we sang it, I broke down crying. I think the hardest thing ever is to lose a good and dear friend. Whether it be through death, over a specific issue or two, or just a gradual drifting apart, it's never easy and tears are a natural part of grieving. However, I know from personal experience, that when I watch a friend leave God proves to me every time that He is there to comfort me. In fact, John 14:18 says it best, "I [Jesus] will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." I guess the biggest part of the song to me is the last phrase, "Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay from His own fullness he can repay." His repayment is so much more than I ever deserved, and I've found it to be beyond my wildest imaginations. One of my friends recently put it to me this way: "Life is like a puzzle, we only see the mixed up pieces, but God has the box and He alone knows how everything is going to turn into a beautiful picture."

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." -Psalm 46:10-11