Saturday, March 7, 2009

my sin not in part but in whole

Last night Doug and I gathered with our brothers and sisters to pray over a family who has meant so much to us. This family has had a hellish time over the past several months. Trials and tribulation are being poured out on them. It is a long list, both physically and spiritually, what they have had to endure since 2008. My heart aches and weeps for them. As we closed our time in prayer we sang "it is well with my soul."

I watched the father, the husband, on his knees, tears pouring down his checks with his arms stretched up to God singing those words in pain, but with an unshakable confidence.
"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul."
He can sing with confidence and passion of the state of his soul, no matter what he endures because he knows his HOLY, HOLY, HOLY God.
"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!"
Through the life of this man, and through his family, you see the power of the cross. It is well with his soul because God Himself upholds them with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). He will endure. He will not run. He will stand with his family. His wife will stand beside him. In a time where the world counsels him to curse God and die, he continues. It is well with his soul.

I thank God that this man and his family are who Doug and I have as an example. Through their lives we see what it means to cling to the gospel, to hold fast to the covenant of marriage, to stand strong against insult and injury. In 10...15...20 years, when Doug and I face something like this, when all that holds us together and keeps us constant is Jesus Christ, I pray that we will be on our knees, tears pouring down our faces, our arms raised toward God, singing with confidence "it is well with my soul, it is well with my soul. It is well, it is well, with my soul."

1 comments:

Ann said...

I am so very thankful to God for providing you with such godly witnesses of faith. I could ask nothing more for you than this be your heart. There is no greater joy I could know than having my children poured out for Christ. I am blessed beyond measure. I love you.