All Is Well

It happened again today…

In recent weeks, on the mornings when I sit down at the piano and play and sing, I have been drawn to the song “All Is Well” by Robin Mark. It strikes me as strange since all is not well with my soul. Our life is in, what seems to be, a constant, long and drawn out season of change and transition. I deeply desire this season to be over and yet the end seems no where in sight. And every time I play this song, I end up in tears as I try to squeak out the words…

All is well with my soul

He is God in control

I know not all His plans

But I know I’m in His hands.

It happened again today. The tears came as I personalized the words and sang,

All is well with my soul

You are God in control

I know not all Your plans

But I know I’m in Your hands.

Is it okay to sing these words even when all is not well with my soul? I feel like I’m lying and yet my tears tell me that this is my longing, my hearts desire, to get to a place, where no matter what is going on around me, I can say that all is well with my soul.

Can such peace be found in the middle of change and transition, when the future is shrouded with unknowns? Can all be well with one’s soul when the sorting and packing needs to be done, the deadline dates zoom close and the worry about raising enough support looms over head? Is it possible to find rest in His hands when the demands of life press in and you feel pulled in a dozen different directions at once? Is it possible to trust when boxing up baby stuff to give away, still wishing and hoping and praying that God’s going to bring another child into the family? Can all be well when personal needs seem overwhelming and yet the needs of others are even greater?

He lowers us to raise us

So we can sing His praises

Whatever is His way all is well.

He makes us rich and poor

That we might trust Him more

Whatever is His way all is well.

He lowers us to raise us…

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” - Col 3:1-3

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” - Gal 2:20

So we can sing His praises…

“Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.” - Ps 105:2

He makes us rich and poor...

“The LORD makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up.” - 1 Samuel 2:7

“The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.” - Prov 22:2

“Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” - 2 Cor 6:10

That we might trust Him more...

“But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands.” - Ps 31:14-15a

“The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.” - Ps 28:7

“And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” - Eph 3:17

He clothes us now then strips us

Yet with His word equips us

Whatever is His way all is well

And though our seasons change

We still exalt His name

Whatever is His way all is well.

He clothes us now then strips us…

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Yet with His word equips us...

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” - 2 Tim 3:16-17

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” - 2 Peter 1:2-4

And though our seasons change…

“All of my life

In every season

You are still God

I have a reason to sing

I have a reason to worship.” - “The Desert Song” by Hillsong

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons...He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.” - Daniel 2:20-22

We still exalt His name...

“I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” - Ps 34:2-4

Whatever is His way all is well…

“ ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’ ” - Jer 7:23

Whatever is His way all is well...

That’s a heavy statement, one that can’t be sung lightly. Have I truly counted the cost and am I willing to obey? Can I really say “whatever is His way” - through pain, trial, sickness, death, persecution, danger, fear, stress, unknowns...- that all is well? Humanly speaking, this is impossible. But through the Holy Spirit’s power….”I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.” - Phil 4:13

All my changes come from Him 

He who never changes

I’m held firm in the grasp of the Rock of all the ages...

Nothing touches me that has not already gone through Him, all of my changes are ordained by the One who does not change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Heb 13:8

He is…

“...my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” - Ps 18:2

“For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?” - Ps 18:31

As I reflect on the words to this song and the precious words of Scripture, I find the answer to the questions I posed earlier. Yes, peace can be found in the middle of change and transition, when the future is shrouded with unknowns. It can be well with one’s soul even when all is not well with one’s circumstances. It is possible to find rest in His hands when the demands of life are pressing in. Trust is possible when you know the One in whom you are trusting. 

Here’s the secret...

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus...And the God of peace will be with you...I have learned the secret of living in every situation...I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.” - Philippians 4:4-7, 9b, 12b-13

So I commit….

to being full of joy in the Lord

to rejoicing

to being considerate in all I do

to remember that He is coming soon & to make the most of the time He’s given me

to not worry about anything

to pray about everything

to tell God what I need

and to thank God for all He has done

And as I live, trying to “do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need,” instead of relying on my own…

I hope I will be able to say, no matter what comes my way, that it happened again today. 

That even through the tears, the unknowns, the stress, the demands, the needs, the responsibilities, the shifting emotions, the worries and the fears, I will be able to say...

“...The LORD my God has given me peace on every side...and all is well.” - 1Kings 5:4