In His Grip

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This month at Faith Barista we are talking about rest. Click on the Faith Barista graphic on my right side bar and join us!

This song always makes me think of rest. Emotional rest… even in the storms of life.

It Is Well With My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford

You cannot fully understand this song, unless you know the whole story.

It is powerful.

It’s much easier to say “it is well with my soul”,  when everything is going well. Life goes according to plan. The waters are glassy smooth. It’s not as easy to sing this song when bruised and broken. When tears flow and hearts leak. When the waves pound hard.

But, it is at those times when the words of this song have the most meaning…

Tired of struggling. Exhausted from treading water. Almost down for the count.

He reaches out.

The hand that grips me strong.

And doesn’t let go.

When the wind and waves threaten

He gives me emotional rest

A calm

In the midst of the storms.

Related Articles

• The Story Behind It Is Well With My Soul (stevensawyer.wordpress.com)
• Lenten Devotions and Practices: Stations of the Cross (catechesisinthethirdmillennium.wordpress.com)
• Praise and Inspiration (thethirdcross.wordpress.com)
• How Great Thou Art (loveyourprincess.com)
• It Is Well With My Soul…Isn’t It? (5ptsalt.com)
• “It Is Well With My Soul” (ptl2010.wordpress.com)