Drawing Near to God

In order to draw near to God, we must still our souls and extract ourselves from all the busyness of life. A few minutes of stilling our souls each day will do wonders for our spiritual and emotional life. This beloved hymn always strengthens me when I feel far from God.

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.

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

With an act of the will, I often have to tell my soul to be still. It does not come naturally for a person who is compelled to be busy with art, writing, cooking, and all manner of life activity. All that busyness makes for the spiritual problem of not spending still time alone with God.

God admonishes us to “be still and know that I am God.” So the stillness is critically important. The words of the hymn shows us many promises that can help us still our souls:

“Leave to thy God to order and provide.”
“In every change, He faithful will remain.”
“Thy God doth undertake to guide the future as He has the past.”
“Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake.”
“The waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.”
“When change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”

My soul can be still when I truly rest on these promises. And when my soul is still, I can draw ever near to God.

Take a moment to listen to this beautiful hymn on YouTube at this link:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tqb125qDqVA.