It Is Well with My Soul: Riding Out Life's Storms
The Confession
I’d love to tell you that I’m the kind of person who meets life’s storms with quiet, graceful strength. I’d love to say that when things fall apart, I immediately pivot to peace.
But if I'm being honest?
I’m just not.
When a trial hits, my first instinct isn't always a prayer, it’s usually a meltdown. My emotions don't just "simmer"; they boil over. Specifically:
- I mope.
- I get angry.
- I let fear run the narrative until I’m completely overwhelmed by the "what-ifs."
I know the truth, but in the heat of the moment, I often let the chaos speak louder than the promise. Then, just when I’m about to go under, a specific song starts playing on my playlist...
Save this to your phone or print it out for those days when the storm feels a little too loud.
If you're going through a rough patch right now, I just want you to know that there is hope. I know how heavy those 'what-ifs' can feel. But there is a peace that doesn't make sense to the rest of the world, a peace that wraps around you when you stop fighting the waves and start trusting the Anchor.
Take a breath. Maybe even take a moment to just sit at Jesus' feet and let it be. Trust that even in the dark, the light hasn't gone out. He’s still there, and His promise of peace is still solid ground.
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
— 2 Corinthians 4:17
The Song That Cuts Through the Noise
Usually, right when I’m at my lowest, a song on my playlist starts to play. It’s like a gentle nudge when I need it most. Those five words hit me every single time: "It is well with my soul."
Anna sent him a telegram that simply said, 'Saved alone.' Can you even imagine? He got on a ship to go be with her, and while he was crossing that same ocean, these words started to take root in him. He was out there on the water, facing the very thing that had just turned their lives upside down.
That really changed things for me. He wasn't sitting in a cozy office when he started feeling those words; he was right in the middle of the mess. If they could find a way to say 'it is well' while facing that kind of loss, I realized I can find it too, even when I’m feeling overwhelmed and messy. It’s not that the sorrow just disappears, but it doesn't have to get the final word anymore.
Grabbing Onto the Lifeline
It’s not that the struggles just vanish, I wish they did! But there's something about knowing I’m not standing in the rain alone. My soul finally finds a place to rest when I stop trying to fix it all myself and just lean into Christ.
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
— Psalm 46:1
Even when the tears are still catching in my throat, I can whisper, "It is well." Isn’t it something? To know that even though the trouble is loud, the peace is deeper.
Sometimes I look back at the things that nearly broke me, and they seem miles away now. It’s like a scar that’s finally healed over, the emotional pain is replaced by a faint reminder of what once was. It’s a reminder that the pain was real, but so was the healing. My peace is eternal, even when the troubles aren't.
Going a Little Deeper...
Sometimes, even when we sing "It is Well," there’s a nagging voice in the back of our heads asking the hard questions. If you've ever sat in the quiet and wondered, "Is this my fault?"—I want you to know you aren't alone in that struggle.
Or, if you just need a quiet place to land every morning:
Explore the Devotional SeriesHEALING TAKES TIME. TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
Hi, I’m Dana, the voice behind Exhortations for Today. As a grandmother (affectionately called Nonna), home cook, and aspiring quilter, I’ve learned that the greatest recharge comes from God’s Word. Here, I share devotionals and reflections to help renew the weary soul.
Read more about my journey here →
