“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 NKJV)
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.1
As she sang the words of the old hymn, Mónica Gutierrez’s trembling voice mixed in with the sound of the choir surrounding her. If the soprano ladies around her could hear the quiver in her tone, they didn’t show it. Annoyed glances were not aimed her way. And she didn’t expect them. These sweet ladies had supported her through her trials and knew that this morning had been difficult.
From her vantage point on the stage, it was easy for Mónica to keep an eye on her family, sitting among the congregants of Redeeming Christ Church. She studied her sixteen-year-old son, Pedro Jr., with his arms crossed and chin up. She could almost detect the defiance in his eyes. The same defiance she saw, up close and personal, on a daily basis.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Her husband’s eyes were closed. His head was bowed. Probably praying for his rebellious junior, who was standing next to him. Her daughter Melisa sang with abandon; her arms stretched high. At fourteen, she still had the child-like faith that Jesus spoke about in the Gospels. Mónica smiled.
Her eyes cut back to her son. Her firstborn. He’d been her pride and joy all those years ago, but lately he was a source of anxiety and worry for both his parents.
He didn’t want to attend church this morning. Who was she kidding? He hadn’t wanted to go to church since he started high school.
But this morning had been harder, much more difficult than other Sundays.
If only she hadn’t read the text message.
A friend had suggested that she check her son’s text messages from time to time to find out what was going on in his life. Because he wouldn’t tell her.
There was a time when he’d confide in her. She always knew his fears, his trials, the name of the girl he liked. Now, she had to sneak behind his back to know what was happening in his life.
Or what he was doing. Mónica closed her eyes, trying to focus on the lyrics of the beloved hymn.
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!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Conflicting emotions warred within her as she sang by memory, almost in autopilot. She wanted to rest in the words she was uttering, and yet she couldn’t shut down the memories of this morning’s events.
Through one of the messages, she found out that Pedro Junior had taken up vaping. Apparently, he’d been at it for many months. No wonder his childhood asthma had flared up. So the imminent confrontation came and an argument ensued.
How had she not known? How had Pedro not noticed it? How could she have been such a neglectful mother?
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
When she accepted the Lord at twenty-one and married a Christian man at twenty-four, she thought she would have a perfect Christian home with perfect Christian children. Lord, where did I fail?
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel!
Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
A soft, warm hand squeezed hers and that’s when she noticed she’d been crying. Sympathy shone in her friend Fiona’s eyes. Fiona had weathered her share of trials in the last few years, with two bouts of cancer, a nasty divorce after her husband left her for someone else, and burying her youngest child at the tender age of eighteen.
Mónica remembered a conversation with Fiona not long ago. The older lady always seemed to have the fortitude to serve others, no matter what was happening in her personal life. She sang in the choir, taught women’s Bible studies, and made it a point to mentor younger women. All with a genuine smile on her face.
“How do you do this, Fiona?” Mónica asked, as they were drinking lattes at the coffee shop.
“Do what?” The older lady responded with a twinkle in her eye.
“Life throws you curveballs, one after the other, and you take it all with grace. I mean, you don’t falter.”
“But I do.” She took a deep breath, held Mónica’s hand, and gazed into her eyes. “I’ve had many mornings where I couldn’t even get out of bed.”
Mónica’s head snapped back. This was news to her.
“I … I didn’t know. How did you manage?”
“Honey, the only way I know how. The only way possible. By the grace of God.” She opened her well-worn Bible. A rainbow of highlights and notes appeared in front of Mónica. “Let me show you in the Word of God.”
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.
Mónica listened intently to the last verse of “It Is Well” before returning to her thoughts. Then, Fiona’s words came back to her. “First, let me read you my absolute favorite. ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ (John 14:27 NKJV). I recite this one from memory every morning, before I get out of bed.” She thumbed through the pages. “And here’s another favorite. ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV). The Apostle Paul wrote it while he was in jail, did you know that?”
Mónica nodded. She’d known. And today, she needed to apply these truths to her own problems.
And as Mónica remembered each of God’s promises that Fiona had read to her that day, the peace that surpasses all understanding washed over her. She bowed her head to thank God for His faithfulness.
Yes, He was faithful, despite her doubts and fears.
By the time the choir began singing the next hymn, Mónica was ready to tackle the rest of the day. No matter what it brought. No matter what bad choice Pedro Jr. made next.
All was well with her soul.
#
Regardless of our circumstances, God is God.
He’s still on His throne.
He’s still in control.
Amen.
- Horatio Spafford and Philip P. Bliss, “It Is Well with My Soul,” 1876, public domain.
Join the conversation:
What verses in God’s word help you to persevere in trials? Which songs or hymns help? Share in the comments below!
I pray this short story helps you in your Christian journey. Please feel free to leave a comment in the section below.
Until next time!
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