When Peace Like A River

I know yesterday I talked a lot about Christ’s death on the cross, but I just haven’t stopped thinking about it. Easter is one of those “holidays” that I NEVER want to overlook because of business or just not taking the time to think about. Every year I try to spend more and more time reflecting on God’s greatest gift to us – His Son.

So on this Good Friday, the song that keeps popping into my head is actually “When Peace Like a River.” It’s a classic ole hymn, but what a song to be singing during this time of year! These lyrics have a few more verses than I am used to, like verses 4 and 5, but each of them speaks to the truth of what Christ has done for us.

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.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

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!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

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!

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.

I will never forget my Grandpa Geurink’s funeral a few years ago. I remember singing this song and just bawling. Tears just started flowing uncontrollably. I tried so hard to not make it obvious, but there were just so many emotions. Knowing my last grandpa had passed away, yet knowing that this is the song he would be singing – It is well, with my soul. One of the last times I visited my grandpa at the assisted living place right before Christmas, my dad had showed me what my grandpa wanted for Christmas. For each resident, they had written what their “want” was and posted it on a bulletin board. His was “that everyone may come to know Christ as their Savior.” (maybe not the exact wording). I just remember reading that and thinking – is THAT my desire too?

It’s hard for me as a human to grasp what Christ’s death may have really been like to experience. The closest thing I can humanly compare it to is losing a very close loved one. That is what brings me back to my grandpa’s funeral and singing “When Peace Like A River.” I cannot sing that song without tears in my eyes – still to this day. What a night it must have been when Christ died on the cross, yet He would be coming back. That He hath shed, His OWN blood, for MY soul.

So we wait. We wait til Sunday to sing those glorious songs of hope and joy – knowing that without Easter, we would not have the hope of eternity. That is why I look SO forward to Easter – it just gives me chills to even talk about it.

And so on this Good Friday, we can still sing, It is well, with my soul.