I grew up in a time when each Sunday in church we sang the old hymns; It Is Well With My Soul, The Old Rugged Cross, Amazing Grace, Just As I Am – old songs where the lyrics were sound and they challenged and encouraged us in our walk with God. I loved these songs then – and still love them today.
I also love the newer praise songs, but today I want to share one of my favorite hymns with you, and some thoughts about how these lyrics encourage grandparents. Before I do, here’s some background on the lyricist – Frances Havergal.
Francis lived in the mid to late 1800’s and wrote a number of hymns. In 1876 she became quite ill. Many thought she would die, but she was not upset or afraid. Instead she had great peace and wrote the song, “Like a River Glorious” – one of my favorites!
Look at the first verse –
“Like a river, glorious, is God’s perfect peace. Over all victorious, in its bright increase. Perfect yet it floweth, fuller every day. Perfect yet it growth deeper all the way. Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest. Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.”
This verse and chorus are true – God’s peace is perfect. It flows fuller and grows deeper each and every day as our hearts are stayed upon Jesus. When we do this, we find His promised perfect peace and rest! Isaiah 26:3 says; “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Here’s a question for us to consider; Do we live like people who trust God and have a deep peace from Him?
Let’s move on with this song;
“Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand. Never foe can follow, never traitor stand. Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.”
Another question to consider: Do we pray knowing God is in control and is big enough to do whatever needs to be done, or do we pray, then worry? Do we trust God knowing we – and our grandchildren, are hidden in the hollow of His hand?
The song finishes with;
“Every joy or trial falleth from above, traced upon our dial by the Son of Love. We may trust Him fully, all for us to do. They who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true.”
What a wonderful way for this song to end! It is true – every joy or trial comes from above, so we absolutely are able to trust God with our all and know He is true with His all! We are able to pray, and live, like people who believe God hears our prayers, and who know every joy and trial we face in life has to travel through God’s hand to reach us. One last question; how will living like this impact our grandchildren?
Our world is scary at times, but God’s hands are big enough to hold us in our trials and our joys! When we trust Him, we will have His perfect peace and joy – this is what our grandchildren need to see; especially in times where the evening news and conversations they hear may frighten them.
Share with your grandchildren today about a time when you experienced God’s perfect peace, how you have been able to trust God wholly and have found Him to be wholly true!
