Be Still My Soul
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. Psalm 107:28-29 (NIV)
After her husband is murdered, Samantha finds herself in a storm that rages deep within her soul. God’s presence and love seem distant. God seems silent. Until He takes her on an unlikely road that only He could orchestrate. As she travels this unlikely road, God quiets the storm of grief and sorrow. As she gives God room to heal her, she remembers the children’s book she had always wanted to write about a baby oriole that she calls Firebird.
Firebird loves the sunshine. When the storm comes and dark clouds gather, he doesn’t understand why God would allow the rain to take away the sun. He has much to learn from his mamma. As he grows older and stronger, she shows him how to fly higher. To fly through the storm clouds. Flying through the storm clouds was hard. But just as he was about to give up, he broke through the clouds and discovered the sun shining brightly above them.
He Will Order and Provide
Life’s storms are bound to come. When they do, we may feel forgotten. We wonder, “Where are you, God?“ God is there with us in the storm. He is there when we feel like David, who, in his deep anguish, says, “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3). We feel like the oriole who couldn’t fly through the storm clouds. Just as the Oriole’s mother was there to teach him to become stronger and fly higher, God is with us in the storm, taking us on a road that teaches us how to become stronger. How to receive His grace, strength and power in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9). How to trust Him to break through the storm clouds of despair and see our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Saviour, who quiets the storm in our souls. I’m reminded of the old hymn by Katharina von Schlegel, Be Still My Soul.
Be still, my soul; the Lord is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
These powerful words tell us that we can speak to our soul. We can command it to be still because God is by our side. He is with us, ordering our steps and providing everything we need through the storm. Our faithful God, who rules the winds and the waves, leads us, just as He did Samantha to that place of rest and joy in Him.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know His voice, who ruled them while he dwelt below. Katharina von Schlegel
Reflection:
Do you feel like the oriole? Give Him your weaknesses. He will give you His grace and power to quiet your storm.
Prayer:
Lord, You see my tears. You see my weakness. Guide me through this storm so that I can see You. Help me to speak to my soul so that I can trust You to order my steps. To provide for me in the storm. Lead me to Your place of rest and joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
