It hurts to see what is happening around the world, the pain, misery and suffering that others are facing - they did not choose this circumstance.
It pains me when someone close to me is struck with an unexpected sickness and it makes me anxious and gives me questions about my own life, my family, my future.
Remind me that such things are not from You and that only through You can we gain strength to overcome circumstances that we did not choose. Only through You can we gain peace and true rest, even in an unpeaceful time.
Lord, You are my peace and promise for the future. Embed your promise on my heart and in my mind. Cease my anxiety as I cast all my cares unto you.
My mind is often cluttered with insecurities and doubts about the future and I often find myself lost in the mountain of "priorities" and end up feeling exhausted, yet unaccomplished.
I lose myself from time to time only to find myself in anxiety, not knowing what to do next and restless even in times when I finally get to rest. Remind me Lord, that you are in control regardless of my feelings and my thoughts. Lead me and give me wisdom to know what to prioritize and not sweat the stuff that does not matter. Give me peace and help me learn to celebrate the little things.
I was particularly touched by this hymn "It is well with my Soul" that we sang in church one of the past Sundays and went to youtube to listen to this song - this is an edited version of the original hymn beautifully sang by Kristene DiMarco & Bethel Music.
Lyrics:
Verse 1
Grander earth has quaked before Moved by the sound of His voice Seas that are shaken and stirred Can be calmed and broken for my regard
Chorus
And through it all, through it all My eyes are on You And through it all, through it all
It is well And through it all, through it all My eyes are on You It is well with me
Verse 2
Far be it from me to not believe Even when my eyes can't see And this mountain that's in front of me Will be thrown into the midst of the sea
Chorus
Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You Through it all, through it all It is well It is well
Bridge x3
So let go my soul and trust in Him The waves and wind still know His name (repeat last line during 3rd run) It is well with my soul It is well with my soul It is well with my soul It is well with my soul It is well it is well with my soul x3
As I went on to search for its lyrics, the original version and what inspired the original writer, Horatio Spafford, on the writing of this hymn popped up.
I couldn't finish this story (real life story of Horatio Spafford) without crying about a bucket of tears, because of how tragic the outcome was and how he, having lost all his beloved children, "still" chose to praise and worship God in his darkest moments and even wrote such a powerful hymn "It is well".
I use the word "still" because many times, when bad things happen, people who believe God will inevitably question where God is, why didn't He stop it and ultimately, many turn away, convinced that God is not there; and people who don't believe God will just have 1 more reason to remain skeptical.
But nothing can be further from the truth. That God didn't cause that to happen. That God IS there. That God is watching and that God WILL give you the strength to raise above the situation with a peace that nobody can understand.
So, even though all things may not seem well, be encouraged, be heartened, it is well with Christ. It is well.
Lyrics:
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.
Chorus:
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 hath 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 the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
