Be Still, My Soul

When it is time for nap time, I have a little routine. First, I say, "It's nap time!" Then, I close the curtains and turn off the lights. Next, I stand holding my swaddled baby boy in my arms in the center of his room. Then, I sing/hum several songs to my darling. Almost always, I start with, "Be Thou My Vision" and when that isn't long enough I move into singing some "Aleluias" over him. Well, today I started singing the Aleluias and my tune kept moving into "the Lord is on your side." It was like I couldn't sing anything else, just that, over and over. Everything I tried to sing moved into "the Lord is on your side." I was thinking, I don't sing that song during this time, and then I realized that it was the Holy Spirit telling me this truth. The Lord is on your side. I couldn't remember the other words to this hymn, so I decided to look them up online and read over them. They pierced my heart as God's light came pouring in. You see, I've been having a little bit of a hard time over the last few weeks. I've felt very far away from my God. I've felt very alone and somewhat lost. I've lacked joy in Jesus, but today, for the first time in awhile, I felt light piercing through that fog of darkness and I knew that God loved me.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in every change God faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future, as in ages past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow for forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.