"It is well! It is well with my soul!"

This is big, I mean, really big.  Like, don’t miss this part.  And don’t forget it.  It’s critically important (as redundant people would say).  Crucial.  Central to everything.

What is so important?  Today’s lyric, of course.  And how do I know? Repetition.  I’ll say it again to prove how important it is.  Repetition.  And repetition is a method of teaching.  As this first verse ends, the hymn writer tells us what God has taught us to say.  And he uses repetition.  When you count the end of the verse and factor in the vocal echoes, he has us sing “it is well” six times and “with my soul” four times.  And his use of repetition isn’t just to teach us the point.

It is the point.

Remember my overuse of the word “counterpose” in yesterday’s study?  Well, it also means “to place into equilibrium.”  Equillibrium.  A state of balance where one force cancels out another.  The opposing forces?  Peace and sorrow.  And make no mistake, those are directly opposing forces on opposite ends of the spectrum.  You have the kinds of highs where things are so good that you forget the Peace Maker who “attendeth” your way.  And you experience the kinds of lows that can tempt you to move away in anger or despair from the same God.  Please don’t make the mistake of thinking you are exempt from that kind of pendulum swing.  Life comes at you hard from all directions.  Consider the wise words of Agur, son of Jakeh:

Two things I ask of you… give me neither poverty nor riches;

lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”

or lest I be poor and… profane the name of my God.

–Proverbs 30:7-9

Okay, nobody really knows who Agur, son of Jakeh really is.  And trust me, it’s a wiki rabbit hole you don’t want to go down.  But his admission that the contrast of too much or too little, whether it be financial or emotional, can affect our relationship with God is important.  So finding equilibrium is paramount.  When being pulled too far in one direction how do you pull back?

Declare what God has taught you – through His word, through His character, His compassion and His mercy – to say.  And this isn’t some fake declaration that things are going well.  The declaration is that your soul is well.  Even if it doesn’t feel like it.  Even it feels as if you’re screaming into a void, as if nobody hears.

Say it.  Declare it is well.  Then say it again.  Then listen for the echo of countless souls joining with you in the chorus.

Some voices sing the first “It is well.”  Others echo the response.

“With my soul.”  Again, the echo.

Then the voices join together to repeat it again… and again.

Until it is well with your soul.

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Finally…

Are you feeling the pull too far in one direction or another?  Do you see how going too far can affect your relationship with God?  Then say what God has taught you to say, regardless of your circumstance.  Declare it into the void.  Listen for the response. Do it again… and again… until you remember it is well with your soul.

IT IS WELL // BEYOND WORDS //JIM FAULK