Speak to Your Soul

Things are going along well. Life is good.

The kids are getting along ... "What a great mother I am!" 

or ...

Your job review turns out much better than you thought ... "I can face every challenge people throw at me!

or ...

Your lab results have fallen in the normal range ... "I'm pretty healthy for my age. I can eat that cheeseburger with fries, chocolate cake and ice cream!'

or ...

You are teaching a Bible class and people look up to you as a mature Christian. "I'm doing really well in my spiritual life. I'm really close to God. His favor is upon me."

But then, all hell breaks loose:

The kids are out of control, and your friends observe what a bad mother you are (or so you think).
 
One of your clients gives it to you for not doing things the way they want you to do them. So now you are horrible at your job according to them ... and according to you!

Something suspicious shows up on your mammogram, and you have yourself "dead and buried and some other woman raising your kids" ... all in a split second ... in your mind.

Your Bible lesson was a real "bomb" and your "students" know it. So how mature could you be now?

So what is going on here, friends? When things are going well, it's not hard to believe that God is on our side and we are loved. But when things go south, we need to speak to our souls:

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God ... Psalm 42:5 ESV

We need to remember GOD Himself ... more than remember the good times and good experiences. Life has its ups & downs. And in the down times, the enemy comes in with his lies that we are not loved and valued, that God in and through us is not enough for our situation.

Look how David says it:

My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”
... Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember YOU... 
Psalm 42:3,5-6 ESL

The other day, a friend of mine shared how she was reading my book, The With-ness of our God and decided to memorize St. Patrick's Breastplate from the first chapter. Little did she realize then how much she would need to speak that beautiful declaration to her soul. As she traveled alone through the often confusing in's and out's of making travel connections in Chicago, almost ready to go into a panic mode in the midst of it all, my friend kept on speaking these truths to her soul:

Christ is beside me, Christ is before me,
Christ is behind me, King of my heart;
Christ is within me, Christ is below me,
Christ is above me, never to part. 

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me, shield in the strife;
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising, light of my life.

Christ is beside me, Christ is before me,
Christ is behind me, King of my heart;
Christ is within me, Christ is below me,
Christ is above me, never to part.

And it truly did become like a shield for her soul!

What about you, dear friend? Are you letting the enemy come in with his lies in the midst of your pain, your confusion, your discouragement. Resist him firm in your faith by remembering God and speaking to your soul the truth. God is for you ...  you are loved; you are valued; and God in & through you is enough for whatever life throws at you. So ...

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy 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 heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below

In you I rest, in You I found my hope
In you I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within your hands alone
Be still, my soul

Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointed grief and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, loves purest joys restored
Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last

In you I rest, in You I found my hope
In you I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within your hands alone
Be still, my soul

In you I rest, in You I found my hope
In you I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within your hands alone
Be still, my soul