Many American Christians know the lyrics well.  Either they were sung from an old hymn book, or from words projected onto a screen in a more “modern” way.  The words have stayed the same.  “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way.  When sorrows like sea billows roll…”  Many of those people know the story behind the words.  A man who had lost so much, came to be at peace because God is in control. So for one hundred and fifty years, we’ve been singing about how Christ shed His blood for us, and we no longer bear our sin.

I want to be like that man. I want to be able to say “High and low, even so….” As my relationship with God grew during my college years, the song became a favorite of mine.  In the big and small feelings of life’s circumstances, God slowly helped me understand that for whatever happened I could say, and truly mean, “I’m at peace with that.”  In Psalm 46:1 we can find a way to refocus our hearts and minds no matter what comes, to be able to say “Even so it is well.” 

God is our refuge. 

 He is our protector. Throughout scripture we can see instances of God’s protection for His people, and even those who weren’t His chosen The Ninevites in Jonah are a great example of this.  God protects us from trouble. (Psalm 32:7)  He protects us from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)  All throughout scripture we see evidence of God’s protection. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, David, and so many others are stories of God’s refuge and protection of people.

Growing up in the Midwest, finding refuge during tornadoes was something that you learned quite early.  The key is finding the safest place to be, lowest level, no windows… When we look for a refuge from the storms of life, we need to make sure that we’re hiding in the safest place.  It’s easy to think that if we have enough savings in our bank account, then we’ll be secure.  Maybe it’s if we have a healthy lifestyle, that we’ll be safe from illness.  While doing or having those things is not bad, we need to make sure that we aren’t depending on them to keep us safe.  Is God still a refuge even when the bad things come?  Yes, Because not only is He our refuge, but…

He is our strength. 

God doesn’t just give us refuge like a hen with her chicks, although He does do that (Psalm 91:4), but He strengthens us.  We’ve all heard of the parents who protect their child so much from everything that the child has difficulty surviving the world as an adult.  They’ve never faced hardship, so they don’t know how to handle it when it comes.  God not only protects us, but He also strengthens us.  There’s a fine balance between the two, for we cannot be strengthened and grow if we are sheltered from all of life’s problems.

Psalm 118:14-15 talks about how God is our strength and our song, and it specifically mentions glad songs of salvation.  What has God saved us from?  Like the words in “It is Well” we are saved from condemnation (Romans 8:8). That sure is a glad song of Salvation!  While He’s saved us from and for so many other things, this one thing is enough to know that whatever happens.  It is well.  

Have you ever been to a sporting event where the whole crowd has sung together the teams’ song or some other victory chant?  All through history we find people singing as a way to strengthen themselves and those around them, to encourage them.  Even the Israelites put the choir at the front of the battle lines. (2 Chronicles 20:21)  Much to my frustration as a child, my parents would sing a song to get me up and going in the morning, when I had a bad attitude, or something of the sort.  Music strengthens.  It’s hard to not have a change of attitude when a good song comes on.  In much the same way, God uses His praise to strengthen us.  They remind us of what is true, not just what our feelings are telling us.  I’m so thankful for the whole book of Psalms. When I can’t find the words to sing, I can easily open up the book and realign my heart.  There you’ll find hope and the reminder that you’re not alone. 

An ever PRESENT help 

God is not waiting at the end of the race for us to get there.  He’s here NOW.  Over the past year, this truth has been pushed on me more and more.  First it was time spent writing about Immanuel, “God with us.”  Then it was a dear friend who kept saying the phrase to me “He is near” and lastly, I happened to go to a dinner where the speaker was the author of a book called The Promise is His Presence.  I’ve known my whole life that God is everywhere. He is omnipresent.  Yet, the knowledge of His personal presence is what often gives me comfort.  He is not far off. (Acts 17:27)  Isaiah 41:10 has been a favorite verse for years.  My whole life I’ve struggled with anxiety, big and little fears and Isaiah reminds us to not be afraid. He is with us. He is near. He is here. I’m so thankful for His present help. 

In trouble  

If the symbol for Christianity is the representation of the cruelest form of suffering, how can we expect to go through life without our own problems?  Jesus even promises, In the world you will have trouble (John 16:33). The hard times will come, and when they do let’s remember what Psalm 46:10 shows us.  If we remember that we can find refuge in God, strength in His truth, and comfort in His presence, then we too can say, “High or low, even so…”

“It is well.”