Christmas Peace

Forgive me, but I’ve been a bit absent from the blog this week.  The Christmas season is in full swing, and I’ve been occupied by all the activity.

And I’ve been processing.

After the events in Connecticut at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, I’ve had a hard time thinking or sitting down to write.  Everything I consider seems trite or unimportant.   Usually in the middle of my holiday baking and gift wrapping I find Jesus speaking to me, but I haven’t been able to hear Him…  its felt like my ears are clogged.  Only one thing has played again and again, faintly in the background of my mind; and it isn’t very Christmas-y, but I’m going to tell you about it anyway.

On Sunday evening Michael and I went to an extraordinary concert.  We saw Andrew Peterson and friends present, “Behold the Lamb of God,” an advent celebration. For the first half of the concert he and his friends performed all kinds of excellent and inspiring music, which Michael and I enjoyed.  And then there was intermission.  When they came back to begin the advent portion of the concert, AP did something unexpected.  He led the audience in a hymn.

It is Well with My Soul.

I could barely breathe out the words in song.  My soul had not felt well – my heart was sore and my mind bruised. Helpless, I could only ask,  “Lord, is it really well?”   But as the body of Christ sang full-voiced and strong around me, I began to hear Him…

I could hear His response, the only answer to all of this world’s chaos.

The world is not well.  It won’t be, not until Jesus comes back to restore and redeem all that has gone wrong on this earth.  But He has made a myriad of promises in His Word that I can count on.  He is faithful to fulfill every one of them, and I can be confident in Him. This knowledge is the only remedy I know that brings peace of heart and mind.

And isn’t that what this Christmas Season is all about? Remembering a God who humbled himself and came to offer our full salvation, bringing peace that only He could afford?

Which makes It is Well with My Soul my new favorite un-Christmas carol.  I leave you with these words as a blessing, that you will have a most peaceful  Christmas season.

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.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.  

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!

And 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.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.