When Peace Like a River, LBW 346 & ELW 785
1 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.
2 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.
3 He lives – oh the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4 Lord, hasten the day, when our faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Devotion
Via the media we have seen what sea storms can do. Sometimes both humans and nature endure such, and sometimes both perish or are devastated. Figuratively too, storm clouds roll in and threaten to envelop us. When city storm-alarms go off we go down to the basement. But where can we go when our lives comes unglued and forces, other than those of nature, threaten to undo us? Is there some inner fortress still standing amid the ruins? Yes, says hymnwriter Spafford: my “everything else” may look hopeless, but not my soul. Powers which seem invincible and overwhelming cannot drive the Lord out of my life. The Rock remains immovable. The cross cannot be torn down. Christ is alive and present and so is my soul.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, keep bringing peace into my life. There are forces, some of them very alive and powerful, which threaten me repeatedly. You contended with them too, for you were so fully human. Save me when I need you most. Amen.