It is well.

As I reread Nicole Johnson’s book Fresh Brewed Life I am reminded once again that it indeed is well with my soul.

You know the hymn I am referring to and I have written about it before .  (Check out that post here.)

That hymn with those words that have touched so many people over the years still get to me when I read them.

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

Refrain:
It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (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,
A song in the night, oh my soul!

Lyrics by Horatio Spafford, Music by Phillip Bliss (taken from Wikipedia)

I know so many people who are going through real life things these days.  Things and events that have rocked their world.  Sickness and financial stressors that just dominate everything.  It’s hard to know what to say to people sometimes, isn’t it?  Words seem so inadequate.

So when I read in Fresh Brewed Life that these are words of comfort I had to agree.  We are not alone in our suffering and trials.  Others have been there before us.  Others will be there after us.  It is as I have often said “just life”.  We live, we learn and we move on.

Life is a journey and this hymn has a definite sequence to it, doesn’t it?  There is a journey written in these words.

 The sky, not the grave, is our goal.

Those words hit me today when I re-read them.  My focus today is realizing that in real time and understanding that life is indeed a journey.  Being on a journey can be unpredictable and daunting but today it is well with my soul.  It really is.

I hope it is well with your soul as well.  Take time for yourself today to reflect on this hymn and perhaps read Psalm 61.