I think I’ve mentioned before that there are a few hymns that either bring a lump to my throat or tears to my eyes: Be Still, My Soul is one of them. The lyrics were written by Katharina von Schlegel in 1752, and the music was composed by Jean Sibelius in 1909, giving it a timeless quality. The hymn speaks to the soul’s ability to find peace in the face of life’s turbulence, encouraging a sense of calm and hope despite adversity.
This hymn has a profound, almost sacred ability to reach into the depths of my soul, soothing the raw edges of my pain and reminding me that there is a purpose even in suffering. The hymn, with its delicate, almost ethereal melody, serves as a balm for the wounds of my past. It is a reminder that, no matter how much I have endured, there is a peace that can be found, even if it feels elusive at times.
The opening line, “Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side,” is an invitation to quiet the restless turmoil within me. It calls me to recognise that, despite the storms of life, I am not alone. The phrase “the Lord is on thy side” offers a sense of companionship, of divine presence, which feels deeply comforting. In the face of all the adversities I have faced, from the betrayals of others to the trauma that has shaped my life, this line assures me that I am not abandoned. It speaks to the heart of my suffering, acknowledging it, but also promising that I am held by something greater than the weight of my pain.
The hymn’s message that “the waves and winds still know His voice” speaks to me with a quiet, yet powerful assurance. It reminds me that, even when the forces of life seem overwhelming, there is a higher power that governs all things. This line evokes a sense of calm, suggesting that even the chaos of my life is not beyond control. The storms I have weathered – the betrayals, the disappointments, the loss – are not meaningless. They are part of a greater plan, and though I may not always understand it, I am invited to trust in the eventual peace that will follow.
As the hymn progresses, it calls me to “leave to thy God to order and provide.” This is a hard but necessary lesson for me, one that I often struggle to embrace. The idea of surrendering control, of letting go of the weight of my burdens, is not easy, especially when I have spent so much of my life holding on to them. Yet, in these words, there is an invitation to release the constant grip I have on my pain and my past. It suggests that, though I may have carried these wounds for so long, I can trust that they will not define me forever. There is a peace that comes from the surrender, from the act of letting go.
The hymn’s closing lines, “When change and tears are past, all safe and blessed, we shall meet at last,” offer a profound sense of hope. This final promise, that all suffering will one day be over, resonates deeply with me. It offers the kind of hope that feels both comforting and liberating. The idea that, one day, I will find rest from the relentless pain of my past is a balm for my weary soul. It gives me something to look forward to, a light at the end of the tunnel, even when the path seems dark and uncertain.
In the context of my life, Be Still, My Soul offers a rare moment of solace. When I dwell on the adversities I have suffered – the betrayals, the loss of innocence, the heartache – I can feel overwhelmed, consumed by the weight of it all. Yet, in this hymn, I find a gentle reminder that my suffering is not in vain. It is not without meaning. The hymn’s message of trust, of surrender, and of eventual peace speaks directly to my heart, comforting me in a way that words alone cannot.
There is something deeply healing in the recognition that I do not have to carry my pain alone. The hymn does not deny the reality of my struggles, but it offers a path forward, a way to find peace in the midst of turmoil. It reminds me that, though I may not have control over the events of my life, I can trust in the promise of eventual peace. It offers me the gift of hope, even when I feel as though I have none left.
In times of deep reflection, when I feel the weight of my past pressing down on me, Be Still, My Soul is a gentle invitation to rest, to trust, and to find comfort in the knowledge that there is a greater purpose to my journey. The hymn does not erase my pain, but it offers me a way to live with it, to carry it with grace, and to find moments of peace amidst the storm.
And now a sermon. I don’t want to share the reason behind the writing of this as it’s deeply personal, however, if it makes any sense to you, then all the better.
Today, we reflect on a hymn that speaks deeply to the human heart – Be Still, My Soul. It is a hymn that calls us to find peace in the midst of life’s storms, to trust in God’s providence, and to surrender our burdens to Him. Today, let us open our hearts to the message of this hymn, allowing its words to sink deep within us, bringing comfort and hope to our souls.
The opening words of the hymn, “Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side,” remind us of a fundamental truth that we too often forget in the midst of our struggles: the Lord is with us. In every moment of pain, in every trial, in every moment of fear, He is by our side. The Lord does not abandon us when life becomes difficult. Rather, He draws nearer to us, offering us His strength and His peace. When we are caught in the storms of life – whether they are the storms of loss, betrayal, illness, or doubt – God’s presence is our anchor. He is the calm in the storm, the steady hand that holds us fast when everything around us feels uncertain.
The hymn continues, “The waves and winds still know His voice.” These words echo the calming of the storm in the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus, with a word, rebuked the wind and the waves, bringing peace to the disciples who feared for their lives. In that moment, the disciples saw the power of Christ over all creation. But there is a deeper message here for us today: the storms of life are not beyond God’s control. He has authority over all things, even the chaos that sometimes seems to overwhelm us. When we face our own personal storms, we are reminded that they, too, are known to God. He sees our struggles, and He is present in the midst of them, working in ways we may not always understand.
In the face of our difficulties, the hymn calls us to “leave to thy God to order and provide.” This is not an easy command. How often do we hold on to our worries, our anxieties, and our pain, trying to control them ourselves? How often do we resist surrendering our burdens to God, thinking that we must carry them alone? But the hymn reminds us that we do not have to bear the weight of the world on our shoulders. We are called to trust in God’s providence, to surrender our worries and fears to Him, and to trust that He will provide for us in His perfect way and in His perfect time. This does not mean that our problems will disappear overnight, but it does mean that we can find peace in knowing that God is in control, even when we feel powerless.
The final verses of the hymn offer us the most beautiful promise: “When change and tears are past, all safe and blessed, we shall meet at last.” This is the hope that sustains us in the midst of our trials. Our suffering is not the end of the story. There is a promise of peace that awaits us – an eternal peace in the presence of God, where all pain, all sorrow, and all tears will be wiped away. In the light of this promise, we can endure the trials of this life with faith, knowing that the suffering we experience now is temporary and that the joy and peace that await us are eternal.
We are not called to deny our pain or to pretend that everything is always fine. Life is hard, and we will face difficulties, some of which may seem unbearable. But in the midst of these trials, we are called to remember that God is with us. He does not leave us to face our struggles alone. He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
The hymn Be Still, My Soul invites us to rest in God’s loving embrace, to trust in His plan for us, and to find peace in the knowledge that He is with us always. It calls us to surrender our worries and to place our trust in the One who holds all things in His hands. And it reminds us that, no matter what we face in this life, the promise of eternal peace in God’s presence is ours.
As we go on, let us carry with us the message of this hymn. Let us be still, knowing that the Lord is on our side. Let us trust in His providence and find peace in His presence. And let us look forward to the day when, all change and tears past, we shall meet Him at last in the fullness of His glory.
May God bless you all. Amen.
Wording 
I don’t know your hymn but am very fond of Finlandia, music by Sibelius also.
Finlandia is beautiful! Love that too. Could have sworn I wrote and posted about that. It must still be in draft. I’ll check on that later.