It Is Well With My Soul

I was jogging last Monday morning and this song was playing on my phone. I have been hearing  and singing this song for some time now, but that day, it just resonated with me. And this has been my anthem this week.

It's easy to sing

When there's nothing to bring me down

But what will I say

When I'm held to the flame

Like I am right now

As I was singing, I was reminded of a passage in the bible, where three friends, named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament, in the third chapter, were thrown into a fire, literally. 

What happened was, the king at that time, King Nebuchadnezzar, built a golden statue, and he required every one in his kingdom to bow down and worship that image when they hear a certain music being played. But these young men, being Jewish, were taught that there is only one God, and it is Him they only worship.

Imagine the rage of the king then when he was told that these young men would not bow down to the image he built! He then ordered these young men to be tied, and thrown into the furnace.

But what is notable was that, even in the midst of this life threatening situation, these men did not flinch, and they answered the king bravely when he asked who would be able to deliver them from his hands. They answered that their God is able to deliver them, but even if He does not, they would still not serve the kings 'gods', nor worship the image he built.

Wow. When I first read this passage as a child, I was incredulous! How on earth do you stand firm like that during a life threatening situation? 

So then, the king, given the answer that they would not bow down no matter what, gave the command to bind them and throw them into the fiery furnace! And because he was so furious, he even gave the command to have it heated seven times more than it was usually heated. The guards did bind them, and they threw them in, and since it was exceedingly hot, those men who bound and threw them into the fire were burned and killed.

And then we see a miracle unfold. Three men, bound, were thrown into the fire. But after a while, the king saw four men walking, unbound, unharmed by the fire! Can you imagine the astonishment of the king when he saw this happen? If you read the story, you will see that he ordered them to come out, and they did. The satraps, administrators, governors and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed, nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

This caused the king to even praise the God of these three young men, proclaiming him to be the only true God, and that He is the one that people should worship. What a great turnaround of events that was! 

As I was listening to this song, I was also reminded of the times, when I myself was facing difficulties, and the Lord delivered me from those dark times. I remember one particular time, I was singing quietly in the darkness, quietly so as not to disturb other people who were already sleeping, tears flowing down my cheeks, as I sang a song of praise to God, asking Him to keep me strong during that time. And He did!

Another time, when I was waiting for my visa to work in Hong Kong to be approved so that I could go and work in our church office. After waiting for a couple of months, I was informed that our application was denied. So what was I to do? What would be my options after that? It was definitely a situation that was entirely out of my hands. But my Pastor said they will try to appeal the decision, and we are to pray again. So pray we did, and back here in the Philippines, while waiting, I prayed like a desperate woman in need of deliverance, in need of divine intervention. So many people were praying for me, and this time, God indeed answered and delivered the good news!

I arrived in Hong Kong with a great testimony of how good the Lord is, and I borrowed the words of King Nebuchadnezzar in the fourth chapter of the same book, I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.

Another time was when I decided to come back home to the Philippines. I came home, not knowing what was in store for me. After praying for some time, I made the decision to come home after working in Hong Kong most of my adult life. That was a very scary decision, and while waiting here, again, I prayed like I was mad. And the Lord never once failed me. He has always provided for me, always guided me where I should go, what I should do.

It is by remembering these times, and countless other times that He has answered my prayers, that enables me to stand firm when I am going through a hard time. Because I know that since He has come through for me so many times, He will do so again, any time. Because the God, whom I serve, is always faithful.

And I go back to the song. It is easy to sing when there's nothing to bring us down. But what will we do if we're held to the flame, when we're facing such difficult times the only thing we can do is cry in despair? But if we are reminded of the times when He has carried us through before, then  we will be able to calm our souls down, and will be able to say, it is well with my soul. It is well with my soul.

I am not going through hard time right now, and for that I am grateful, but perhaps, one of you, dear readers, is facing a crisis of sorts. And I just want to encourage you that if God has been faithful to you in the past, you just need to remind yourself that He will be faithful yet again. Or if you have not experienced it yet, why not try crying out to Him? He is merciful to those who are in need of mercy. And His grace always abounds. Go on. Reach out to Him, and He will receive you into His loving arms.

So, even if the difficult situations do not seem to go away, even when it seems that God is silent, when we know that He is faithful and that He is the same yesterday, today and forever, we know that He is our only hope, and that no matter what we are going through, the good and the bad, we should still be able to say, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.

I leave the lyrics of the song below. You might want to search it on Youtube just so you can hear it once and be encouraged like me.

To read more articles like this, please go to this page.

Even If

MercyMe

[Verse 1]
They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I'm losing bad
I've stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it'll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can't

[Pre-Chorus]
It's easy to sing
When there's nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I'm held to the flame
Like I am right now

[Chorus]
I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

[Verse 2]
They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well, good thing
A little faith is all I have right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

[Chorus]
I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

[Bridge]
You've been faithful, You've been good
All of my days
Jesus, I will cling to You
Come what may
‘Cause I know You're able
I know You can

[Chorus]
I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

[Outro]
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul