“Be Still my soul . . .” The old hymn reminds.
How do I “be still?”
This is the question as the clock continues to move time.
Fears flood in an instant.
Stresses press on our back.
Pain wears down the weary body. There are tears on the inside, like rain no one can see.
We’re in this marathon race. It’s not how we start, it’s how we finish.
We must finish. We must finish well. But “How?”
With unity. Not isolated and alone. That spells defeat and loneliness.
Reminding each other to remind ourselves:
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 heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
We must remember God is King over everything.
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:22-25.
Our prayer to Jesus: “There is so much change. But You, O LORD remain.
We draw near to You, and You draw near when we do.
O God, help us, today in such darkness, take hold of Your light and believe and rest . . .
in Your faithfulness.
“Be still, my soul: Our God doth undertake
To guide the future, as You have the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
We pray in a hymn, dear Lord.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
Your voice Who ruled them while You dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt we better know Your love, Your heart,
Who comes to soothe our sorrow and our fears.
Dear Lord, comfort the downcast with Your Spirit, we draw near.
“Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with You 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.”
Dear Father in heaven, we bow our heads together. The most important change that needs be, is inside of me—Increase my faith, that I might stand, and follow You, as You take hold of my hand.
“Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, You, O Lord on high; to
Acknowledge You in all our words and ways,
So shall You view us with a well-pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Son of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.”
We bow our heads, we pray to You. We end our words and whole heartedly say: “Our soul is still, as we set our minds on the hill, where You laid down Your life, as a perfect sacrifice, forgiving my failures, Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You.“
(1) “Be Still My Soul” by Katherine von Schlegel.