it is well with my soul ... finding freedom in christ alone

Horatio Spafford wrote It Is Well with My Soul around 1873-1874, following the tragic loss of his children. Although, I've sung this beloved hymn of the Christian faith throughout my life, an overwhelming love and appreciation for these precious lyrics seemed to have captivate my heart recently.

As I found myself questioning the goodness of God & the purpose of life (if there even was a purpose) while dealing with consuming unresolved compounded grief coupled with coldly offered religious sentiments from well-meaning people, I felt as if I was a fraud when I would sing these words ... or even as I read these words ... I, secretly, wondered if this was just some far-off goal to which I'd never attain. That was seven months ago. Today ... life is radically different. Ironically, so much of life is unchanged; however, life is different. What exactly has changed?

One word. FREEDOM. Walking through nearly 28 weeks of discovering freedom in Christ, resting in who HE says I am, seeking to live life and make decisions for the Father's smiling approval instead of the approval of man ... it's been difficult ... but, in all honesty, aren't most life-changing events difficult? 

Verse one of It Is Well with My Soul says: "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." 

Peace was, indeed, like a rushing river. Here for but a mere moment. Gone again. I didn't understand because I was "doing" what folks told me I needed to do ... serving others, reading my Bible, reading good books, going to church, praying, not talking so much about what was plaguing my soul ... I, soon, discovered that there was a much deeper truth that had to be dealt with ... The LORD MUST bring healing to the soul wounds we bear. He MUST remove the cheap religious band-aids we use to cover our wounds and clean out the infections with His grace, mercy, and truth. It is THIS process that brings healing and hope. Although it is painful, there's a newness that's indescribable when one submits to the LORD's healing nail-scarred hands.

The sorrows. Oh, how there were piling up! Death seemed to be everywhere. The people closest to me were all gone. Aunt Polly. Uncle John. Grannaw. Oh, how I needed to hear their voices again {& still do, at times}! Others in the family were gone ... Relationships that I had held dear were over ... because they walked away. Since 2014, death seemed to be the "theme of life." I needed to process some of it and was met with cold attitudes of indifference and statements about how death was "just a part of life"....What was I to do? Through these last several weeks/months, I discovered that my life MUST be lived poured out in service to others FOR God alone. Unknowingly, I had put my relationships with the people I dearly loved above my relationship with God. I, also, discovered that the LORD cares about the grief ... even when/if others are too busy to care. And He knows how to handle my heart with such tenderness!

Whatever my lot. Oh my! These three words are terrifying! My external circumstances are the same, for the most part. My loved ones are still gone. My father is still battling chronic medical issues. Relationships have still been lost ... BUT GOD! He hasn't changed! He's still the immutable Rock who never shakes, never breaks.
King David says in Psalm 16:5-6, "O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance."
My focus MUST be on the LORD. Only when my heart is focused on Him will I be able to embrace the WHATEVER of my specific lot. The same is true for you, Dear Friend!

Walking through the biblical processes to bring me to the present day circumstances hasn't been easy, but it's been so worth it! I've seen the LORD bring beauty from the ashes of sin and disgrace!

Verse two says: "My sin, O the bliss of this glorious tho't, 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!"

Over the last several months, Calvary has become more glorious. More precious. It's become more than a historical event that secured my place in Heaven. The LORD of Calvary's cross and the empty tomb affect all of my TODAYs ... How? Because He's ALIVE & intimately involved in my TODAYs.
Jesus didn't just die for sin, in general. He died for my anger, my bitterness, my apathy, my deceit and conceit, and all the rest of my sins ... He died for EACH of my specific sins ... past, present, and future. My sins. The labels I've worn - some self-imposed and some others-imposed. ALL are nailed to Calvary, covered in the blood of Jesus Christ ... Now, I - truly - bear them no more! I have a new identity ... a new name. A new label!
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Verse three says: "O, Lord haste the day When my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back As a scroll; The trump shall resound And the Lord shall descend, "Even so" it is well With my soul."

Yes, Jesus is coming again! The first time, He came as a Babe in the Bethlehem manger ... Emmanuel ... God with us. The second time, Jesus will come as the Victorious Judge ... defeating ALL evil ... making right all that evil has made wrong. Are YOU ready for that day, my Friend??

Jesus said in John 8:32, 36, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free ... Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Soli Deo Gloria!

{For more information on this in-depth, life changing study that I've been blessed to be a part of, check out their website www.freedomsession.com}