“I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you.” – Isaiah 46:4

A good friend of mine, who is an incredible encourager, recently texted me the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns from when I was a child growing up in church; “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.” Such beautiful words! And words I need to be reminded of every day.

Life is incredibly hard. It is full of ups and downs; and sometimes the highest highs and lowest lows are within moments of each other. Because of this, we seek out comfort in many places. These can range from extremely unhealthy things, like addictions, to very beautiful things, like family. However, none of these things have the strength or longevity to give us everything we need to face all this world will throw at us. That perfect peace only comes from having a loving relationship with the God who has sacrificed everything because he loves us. The only way you can say, “it is well with my soul” in any and every situation is to understand that God, through Christ, has already given you eternity with him. The One who has dominion over this world holds my soul in his hands and calls me his child. There is no greater comfort than that.

Heavenly, loving Father, keep us ever mindful of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Keep us ever mindful of the fact that we are seated with you in the heavenly realms. Keep us ever mindful that you have dominion over this world and have perfect love for me. Teach my soul to truly say, in every situation, “it is well.”

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon