It is Well

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.

Yesterday I had a very sobering meeting with my work team from across the US and two of us from Canada.  I had heard a small amount about how bad things were in New York City with the virus.  To protect my mental health I have been limiting my news intake to my province and country - even that is sporadic.  I check in on North Carolina once in awhile but my people living there keep me updated.  

We had a guy join our meeting to give us a first hand account of what he and other pastors are working through on the ground in NYC.  He shared how there is a tractor trailer truck parked outside a hospital where they are piling up dead bodies because the morgues are full.  Bodies are being moved using fork lifts because there are so many of them.  There are hundreds dying every day.  It's very sad.  It was very encouraging to hear how these men and women of God are trying to love and serve their neighbours.  A church planter partnered with a local small business to provide meals with those in need in their community.  The church paid a nominal fee for each meal which means blessing the business and the community at the same time.  The thing that stuck with me the most was when he said "This will determine who lusts after the souls of the lost in the city and who are here just because it's a cool location."  Lord may we all lust after lost souls in our city!

It continued to weigh heavy on my heart throughout the day.  I talked about it with just about everyone I talked to the rest of the day.  It's just so sobering to think about the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who will not survive this pandemic.  We will all likely have someone we know directly or indirectly that will pass away in this.  I managed to distract myself for most of the evening.  It's always good to talk to my little people on FaceTime.  I made myself a good dinner.  Thanking God continually that my tribe is safe and mostly healthy.  

As He usually does, God sent me a song as I was showering this morning.  We have our best conversations there!  Sorry if that's too much information.  The line from the song above "When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul."  The thoughts of all those people dying at once had crashed over me like a big wave from the ocean.  The sorrow from that was overwhelming but Jesus gently reminded me that whatever my lot, it is well with my soul.  Sorrows and circumstances feel very overwhelming at times these days.  Those are the days that, like Peter, my eyes are on the waves instead of the Saviour walking on water.  I am missing the wonder and miracle in front of me by focusing on the sad, sorrowful circumstances.  My prayer for all of us today is that we will not feel like we are drowning in the sorrows that surround and overtake us but that we fix our eyes on Jesus and rest in the fact that it is well with our souls.