What do you do when you feel overly tired of mind and body? You generally begin to stress over the past, present, and future… Then, you worry whether all will be as it should be, all the while there is a portion of your peace weighted like a sea anchor, deep and struggling to find something to cling to.
As a leader, you stress over the needs of people, finances, and success. Then, as a father, you watch from a distance and know you no longer have the influence you once thought you had. As a family member of a huge group of folks, you often feel isolated and out of touch.
Well. A nice quiet moment of deck time
with the morning chatter of birds
sure breaks the discomfort.
What To Do?
But what do people do who have not the opportunity of quiet and morning relaxation? Perhaps their road is more easily walked, but I’m sure there are plenty of equally stressed people searching for the path of rest and restoration.
For me, a lengthy quiet drive may not assuage the moment because driving in a crowd is not always enjoyable. But it does give me some roads to explore in sort of a mindless way.
Summer vacations bring out the masses to the mountain passes and it’s difficult to simply drive for the beauty of the trip! The beach is not enjoyable unless it’s a cool windy breeze that keeps the heat and humidity at bay! And never is the Mall a place to ever run to…I’m just saying, moving into crowds does not provide the escape needed.
A peaceful stroll through the wooded trail brings a Robert Frost moment, and this is often the quiet interlude needed. Watching the clouds softly fade to the heated sun is not always enjoyable. Why? Clouds do hide the sun and allow for a cooler moment! But enjoying the wildlife can be the blessing needed when the chatter of voices drown out the peaceful comfort of restoration.
A good book? Well, the Good Book can and does help a lot! I find great solace in time spent with God’s Word. For much of my reading during these times come from the everyday life of David and Paul. Much comfort from two great writers of each testament.
Then Comes A Song
A song of old comes to my mind and peace, sweet peace releases itself into the moment as I hear my mind repeat my grandmother’s popular saying, “I do well” and that brings great comfort.
Can you do equally well when the storms asail, and your entire body is exhausted from life?
There is a story about a family who went through a great tragedy, and yet in the midst of accepting the loss, the father penned these words that became a song of solace. A song of hope.
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.
Refrain:
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.
It Is Well with My Soul
Horatio G. Spafford, 1873. copyright status is Public Domain
Subjects: Peace, Trust Scripture: 2 Kings 4:26; Psalm 146:1