When it Isn't

When it Isn't 

by David Brenneman 

"All the way my Savior leads me

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His faithful mercies?

Who through life has been my guide

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort

Ere by faith in Him to dwell

For I know whate'er fall me

Jesus doeth all things well

All of the way my Savior leads me

And He cheers each winding path I tread

Gives me strength for every trial

And He feeds me with the living bread

And though my weary steps may falter

And my soul a-thirst may be

Gushing from a rock before me

Though a spirit joy I see

And all the way my Savior leads me

Oh, the fullness of His love

Perfect rest in me is promised

In my Father's house above

When my spirit clothed immortal

Wings it's flight through the realms of the day

This my song through endless ages

Jesus led me all the way"

"All the Way My Savior Leads Me" - Fanny Crosby 1875

"When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well) with my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come

Let this blest assurance control

That Christ (yes, He has) has regarded my helpless estate

And has shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well) with my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul" - It Is Well With My Soul (When Peace, Like a River)

Horatio Gates Spafford (1873)

When it isn't well with my soul.

It's something of a difficult time for me, and quite often God tends to put me on display through what it He's permitted to happen.

There is the passage that says that we walk by faith and not by sight.  

It's hard.  It's difficult to say the least. 

When there's already a heap of things vying for your attention that are complex in nature needing fixed, and one more adds itself to the list.  That's what happened last night.  One more major thing happened.  

When things pile up, you begin to self-examine.  To wonder what may have happened that it would appear that God's favor has been removed.  

It's not removed, His mercy is still there.  As I thought of these heavy things, I am again drawn to that Great Storm of 2021.  That one where I began a trip back to Columbus and shortly after getting on the major highway things went quickly from bad to worse.  All I could do was pray and drive.  Couldn't pull off, couldn't slow down.  All I could do was trust and obey. 

We aren't going to understand much of why God allowed things to happen in our lives.  That's just a fact of life.  We aren't going to get an explanation from Him for what we see happening in the world.  

I know that my Redeemer lives. 

That was Job's response. 

Joseph knew that the Lord was with him. 

Daniel had the Lord with him in the lion's den. 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had Jesus with them in the furnace. 

All the way my Savior leads me. 

This week at work is going to be filled with struggles.  Keeping my wits about me will be a high priority.   

Pray on, pray over, pray through.

Bringing everything to the feet of Jesus, the good, the bad and the ugly.  

Am searching in other areas and am constantly in prayer for that solution as well.  

All the way my Savior leads me

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His faithful mercies?

Remembering what He's already brought us through, is the best practice to have. 

He has always been faithful. 

He has always been ahead of the game. 

He has always been able to handle everything this world has tried to do.

It's not because of anything we have done, it's on account of His great Name.  We are children of God.  Bought with a price. The blood of Jesus Christ.  He took my place on calvary. He died for me, I live for Him.  

Understanding isn't a given in life.  Our minds can't cope with everything that the Lord Jesus Christ takes into consideration in our lives as well as those whom we are meant to impact.

As a side note...if it causes pain to the enemy of God that I testify to the mercies of my God...all the better. 

God is taking this blog places that I never could have imagined.  He is bringing it into households where the message of salvation never would have entered otherwise.  Someone, somewhere, is impacted by what He has me write.  If my trials bring even one person to the reality that they need Jesus, it's well worth it.  If the pain that Satan thinks he's inflicting on me or my family is causing even 1 to reconsider the message of Salvation it's worth it.  Paul listed many severe trials that he went through for the sake of the Gospel.  Beatings, stoned, shipwrecked, bitten by poisonous snakes.  

Those in the Faith chapter in Hebrews.

When we go through rough waters with Jesus, we join our names to that faith chapter list. 

The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For the sake of His name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cupoverflows. Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.