Be Still, My Soul

A couple of weekends ago, Diedra and I spent a wonderful weekend in Austin with close friends made during our tour of Israel. They took us to some Austin-original eating places, shared their boat (we tubed and wake-boarded, until battered and exhausted), and took us to their church. After Church we went to Stubbs, one of the many Austin establishments that hosts live music. We went to “Gospel Brunch,” wherein we enjoyed a delicious buffet and great music from an African American Gospel band. My favorite things: great friends, great food, and great music about our hope in the Savior, all in one place! A foretaste of glory divine! Thank you, our friends (and our Lord), for such refreshment!

I wanted to share a hymn that greatly ministered to Diedra and me while worshiping with our friends. It’s a lament, of sorts, and I wish you could here the cry of the melody (added later by another), that so excellently communicates the soul-cry of the words. The writer is wracked with the pain of some recent difficulty, and is exhorting her soul unto hope. Though excellently translated, I wish I could know its beauty in the original language. In these our wilderness wanderings, the hope expressed in pain is especially meaningful.

Be Still, My Soul by Katharina A. von Schlegel

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: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

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 blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Cyberhymnal.org