The following is something many of us need to remember.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
-Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
In an early morning telephone call with a friend who is really struggling with trusting God in the details of her life, she talked about how anxious she is all the time. I suggested several things for her to do, among them, to guard her time with the Lord as she prays and spends time in His Word.
She retorted, “How can I have time with the Lord with all the noise and chaos around me?”
Psalm 46:10 came to mind, then a wonderful hymn written by Katharina A. von Schlegel and translated into English by Jane L. Borthwick, came to mind because it is based on Psalm 46:10.
I sang the second verse to my friend:
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.
Do you know Be Still, My Soul? Here are the complete lyrics*:
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.
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 hast’ning 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 blessed 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.
Here are two beautiful acapella (without music accompaniment) versions that I love, even though neither version includes all the verses:
Be Still My Soul – A cappella – Eclipse 6 – Official Video – on iTunes – YouTube
Be Still, My Soul – Naturally 7 – acapella
*Lyrics from: Be Still, My Soul > Lyrics | Katharina A. von Schlegel (timelesstruths.org)
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