It is Well

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul."

It is Well with My Soul, Horatio G. Spafford

Lately these words have been the theme song of our family.  I've never known a time to hold such great joys and such deep sufferings as those we have endured over this last year.  From the birth of our sweet babe, to the betrayal of our church family, we thought we had experienced more than our fair share of mountains and valleys.  However, our faith has continued to be tested.

When we left Bethany, I knew the Lord had to be calling us out of full-time church ministry – how could He expect us to continue to subject ourselves to the actions and attitudes of people in the church?  However, God prompted Tyler to pursue a position with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which is not only a full-time ministry position, but a full-time missionary position. 

When Tyler first proposed the idea of FCA, I reluctantly agreed to begin the fundraising process. I knew with all of our other jobs (one for me, and 3 for Tyler,) we could make things work, even if God didn’t come through with providing the funds that Tyler needed to begin his ministry position.  

And then this past week, Tyler was let go from his other part-time worship leader position and the Lord said, “You cannot do this on your own. You must trust me.”

I was stopped in my tracks.

Not only have I been failing to trust the Lord with our finances.  I’ve refused to trust Him with my heart and with our future. 

I had put a timeline on my faith, telling myself that I would only put up with this waiting period for so long. 

Today I listened to this song written by Horatio Spafford, who continued to find peace and rest in Jesus, even when his entire family was lost to the sea, and I was reminded that Heaven is our goal.  I was reminded that my faith and trust in Jesus is not dependent on what sorrows we experience, or what blessings we receive; rather, I will find rest and joy in the waiting.   

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!

Though I feel as if our life certainly has been a tumultuous sea as of late, it has also been filled with the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.  

Today I am letting the words of this song pour over my soul, holding onto the hope we have in Christ that this world is not our home. 

My prayer for you is that no matter where you're at, you can hold onto these truths as well.

Even so, 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.

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,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

Blessings,
Kailey