Podcasts about it is well

Notes Here Horatio Spafford. “It Is Well with My Soul.” Manuscript hymn, 1871. Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (8)

Join us for It Is Well week 2 we learn to put off the old man with it's practices as we put on the new man.

Send us a textHannah Linder - international and multi-award-winning graphic designer who specializes in professional book cover design, novelist, and self-portrait photographer of historical fashion - invites us into her faith journey including being an old soul who loves music from the 40's-60's; growing up in a Christian family; wanting Jesus in her heart at five years old; the impact of a prayer at age eleven; writing her first book at twelve; launching her book cover design business; how a writers conference jump started her business; how a cover is created; how being obsessed with “romance and murder” steered her personal Christian fiction novels; David being her favorite person in the Bible (besides Jesus, of course); her love of 1800s poetry; how she incorporates her faith through a spirit of excellence and integrity; her collection of vintage dresses; the song “It Is Well”; and much more! https://hannahlinderdesigns.com/https://hannahlinderbooks.com/Support the show

This week's message is titled "Joel, Acts, and the Holy Spirit." Thank you to Paul, Rhonda, Don, and everyone else who made this service possible. Songs from this service: In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified - https://youtu.be/9IpW8lLjMkY -- Lord I Need You - https://youtu.be/tp_w5b3eeh0 -- It Is Well with My Soul - https://youtu.be/5ovnm-gzLfs -- Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - https://youtu.be/kMBt8mkW9as -- I Am a Sheep - https://youtu.be/Vm5hV4ews6g -- Great Is Thy Faithfulness - https://youtu.be/IiQzzc41z5Q -- Trust In You - https://youtu.be/qv-SXz_exKE Scriptures from this service: Communion - Matthew 27:46; Psalm 73:23-26 (GNT); 73:28 (GNT). Reading: Joel 1:1-13. Sermon - Joel 2:11; 2:28-31; 2:32; 2:12-13; 2:17; 3:2; 3:9-10; 3:20-21; Acts 2:17-20; 2:21; 2:22-24; 2:24; 2:25-28; Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:27-28; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:36-39; 2:41; 5:42; 2:47; 6:7; 5:42; 9:31; 17:24-25; 17:28; 20:32; 28:31; Romans 14:7; 14:7-8; 16:25-27; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20. Closing - Ephesians 1:18-23. Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash [accordion] [accordion-item title="NIV Copyright" state=closed]Scripture quotations marked (NIV) taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version© NIV© Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.[/accordion-item] [accordion-item title="Good News Translation Copyright" state="closed"]Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today's English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.[/accordion-item][/accordion]

Subscriber-only episodeSend me a Text MessageWhat does it truly mean to have faith? It's easy when life is going well, but what about when everything falls apart? In this episode, we explore the concept of soul planning—why we come to this world, what we are here to experience, and how faith plays a crucial role in our journey. Through the powerful story behind the hymn It Is Well with My Soul, we'll uncover how even our deepest tragedies hold purpose.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Why faith isn't about blind belief, but about trust in the bigger pictureThe purpose of soul planning and why we choose to experience both joy and hardshipHow labeling experiences as “good” or “bad” affects our perception of themThe inspiring story of Horatio Spafford and the creation of It Is Well with My SoulHow to navigate life's challenges with faith, courage, and resilienceMemorable Quotes:

In the wake of unimaginable personal loss, Haratio Spafford wrote the well known hymn: "It Is Well with My Soul.” Spafford's story, marked by grief and tragedy, invites us to explore how we can find shalom amidst life's deepest sorrows. Drawing on Scripture, including the rabbinic idea of God's Shekinah (abiding presence), we discover two enduring truths that enable us to say, “It is well with my soul.” First, God is with us, holding our hand through our pain.  And second, He is making all things right.  To learn more, check out…

If Thou Endure Well by Neal A. Maxwell and Song- It is Well With My Soul.  ACU Sunday Series. None of us can or will be immune from the trials of life. However, if we learn to endure our struggles well, they will be turned into blessings in eternity. If Thou Endure Well. Neal A. Maxwell.  1984 Watch this video at-   https://youtu.be/t023RmGUF6Y?si=hZpDhGPIurrmjwqv BYU Speeches 228K subscribers 753,022 views Aug 25, 2020 Introduction: 0:00 Enduring Well: 0:50 The Savior Endured: 2:26 The Role of Faith: 3:42 Endurance is for Everyone: 4:49 A Scripture About Endurance: 6:42 Disappointing Ourselves: 7:31 Life is not Linear: 8:33 Enduring Temptation: 9:17 Be Steady: 10:29 Intellectual and Behavioral Endurance: 11:35 The Gospel Feast: 13:17 Don't Give Up: 14:55 Conversion Process: 18:33 Enduring Uncertainty: 20:05 A Schooling Process: 26:01 Gethsemane: 31:09 Lightening Our Loads: 37:10 Cares of the World: 42:24 The Business of Living: 49:12 Conclusion: 50:44 This speech was given December 4, 1984. Listen to the speech here: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/neal-a... Read more about Neal A. Maxwell here: https://speeches.byu.edu/speakers/nea... Subscribe to BYU Speeches for the latest videos:     / byuspeeches   Read and listen to more BYU Speeches here: https://speeches.byu.edu/ Follow BYU Speeches: Podcasts: https://speeches.byu.edu/podcasts/ Facebook:    / byuspeeches   Twitter:    / byuspeeches   Instagram:    / byuspeeches   Pinterest:    / byuspeeches     It Is Well with My Soul (arr. Mack Wilberg). The Tabernacle Choir Life can be so unpredictable—joys and sorrows, beautiful blessings and distressing difficulties, can come unexpectedly. Our life's dreams and plans can change in an instant. We all know this to be true. So how can we find peace amid such turbulence? Horatio Spafford knew something about life's unexpected challenges. He was a successful attorney and real estate investor who lost a fortune in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Around the same time, his beloved four-year-old son died of scarlet fever. Thinking a vacation would do his family some good, he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to England, planning to join them after he finished some pressing business at home. However, while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship was involved in a terrible collision and sunk. More than 200 people lost their lives, including all four of Horatio Spafford's precious daughters. His wife, Anna, survived the tragedy. Upon arriving in England, she sent a telegram to her husband that began: “Saved alone. What shall I do?” Horatio immediately set sail for England. At one point during his voyage, the captain of the ship, aware of the tragedy that had struck the Spafford family, summoned Horatio to tell him that they were now passing over the spot where the shipwreck had occurred. As Horatio thought about his daughters, words of comfort and hope filled his heart and mind. He wrote them down, and they have since become a well-beloved hymn: When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll— Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know It is well, it is well with my soul. Perhaps we cannot always say that everything is well in all aspects of our lives. There will always be storms to face, and sometimes there will be tragedies. But with faith in a loving God and with trust in His divine help, we can confidently say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”   Watch this video with subtitles at-  https://youtu.be/Eg5O2y1UXw4?si=JvgZ32hBe4iqMK3J   The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square 891K subscribers 5,209,607 views Aug 2, 2017 For the story behind this song:     • It Is Well with My Soul - The Spoken ...   The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square perform Mack Wilberg's arrangement of "It Is Well with My Soul," by Philip P. Bliss. Follow The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square Instagram:    / thetabernaclechoir   Facebook:    / thetabernaclechoir   Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ZOowwN   Lyrics to "It is Well with My Soul"   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.   Refrain: It is well 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 hath 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 the 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   Aired June 25, 2017.   General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ 586K subscribers 12,448 views Feb 12, 2015 https://www.lds.org/general-conferenc... For Come Follow Me lesson manual and materials visit- Come, Follow Me For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/come-follow-me/2023?lang=eng   For a list of 100+ episodes of ACU Sunday Series visit- https://www.podbean.com/site/search/index?kdsowie31j4k1jlf913=85cb8104bdb182c048b714ad4385f9e82a3aeb49&v=ACU+Sunday+Series+ Note- Click on “100 Episodes Found” in upper right corner.   For many different Podcasts based on the ‘Come Follow Me' program visit- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=come+follow+me+   Subscribe to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the latest videos: http://bit.ly/1M0iPwY Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchofjesu... Twitter: @Ch_JesusChrist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChurchOfJes... Website: ChurchOfJesusChrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints   BYUEducationWeek Get a Free Book of Mormon | ComeUntoChrist Church of Jesus Christ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org › requests › free-...   The Book of Mormon brings you closer to Jesus. Click to download a free digital copy of the Book of Mormon and learn about it with online missionaries.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Strength of Youth To help you find the Way and to help you make Christ's doctrine the guiding influence in your life, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has prepared a new resource, a revised version of For the Strength of Youth.   For over 50 years, For the Strength of Youth has been a guide for generations of Latter-day Saint youth. I always keep a copy in my pocket, and I share it with people who are curious about our standards. It has been updated and refreshed to better cope with the challenges and temptations of our day. The new version of For the Strength of Youth is available online in 50 different languages and will also be available in print. It will be a significant help for making choices in your life. Please embrace it as your own and share it with your friends. This new version of For the Strength of Youth is subtitled A Guide for Making Choices. To be very clear, the best guide you can possibly have for making choices is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the strength of youth. So the purpose of For the Strength of Youth is to point you to Him. It teaches you eternal truths of His restored gospel—truths about who you are, who He is, and what you can accomplish with His strength. It teaches you how to make righteous choices based on those eternal truths.13 It's also important to know what For the Strength of Youth does not do. It doesn't make decisions for you. It doesn't give you a “yes” or “no” about every choice you might ever face. For the Strength of Youth focuses on the foundation for your choices. It focuses on values, principles, and doctrine instead of every specific behavior. The Lord, through His prophets, has always been guiding us in that direction. He is pleading with us to “increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation.”14 He is inviting us to “hear Him.”15 He is calling us to follow Him in higher and holier ways.16 And we are learning in a similar way every week in Come, Follow Me.   American Conservative University Podcast (ACU) is not an official representative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. All opinions, selections and commentary are solely those of ACU.  We post a variety of selections from various Christian denominations.   ACU Endorsed Charities -------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Born! Saving babies and Souls. https://preborn.org/ OUR MISSION To glorify Jesus Christ by leading and equipping pregnancy clinics to save more babies and souls. WHAT WE DO Pre-Born! partners with life-affirming pregnancy clinics all across the nation. We are designed to strategically impact the abortion industry through the following initiatives:… -------------------------------------------------------- Help CSI Stamp Out Slavery In Sudan Join us in our effort to free over 350 slaves. Listeners to the Eric Metaxas Show will remember our annual effort to free Christians who have been enslaved for simply acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Savior. 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Thank you for your compassion  Giving the Gift of Freedom and Hope to the Enslaved South Sudanese -------------------------------------------------------- Food For The Poor https://foodforthepoor.org/ Help us serve the poorest of the poor Food For The Poor began in 1982 in Jamaica. Today, our interdenominational Christian ministry serves the poor in primarily 17 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Thanks to our faithful donors, we are able to provide food, housing, healthcare, education, fresh water, emergency relief, micro-enterprise solutions and much more. We are proud to have fed millions of people and provided more than 15.7 billion dollars in aid. Our faith inspires us to be an organization built on compassion, and motivated by love. Our mission is to bring relief to the poorest of the poor in the countries where we serve. We strive to reflect God's unconditional love. It's a sacrificial love that embraces all people regardless of race or religion. 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Believe In miracles but trust in Jesus #RTTBROS #Nightlight Trusting Without Seeing: When Faith Meets the Unseen Path "Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way." - John 4:50 In our walk with Christ, we often find ourselves standing at the edge of uncertainty, much like a free solo climber facing El Capitan's towering face. The next handhold isn't visible, the path ahead seems shrouded in mystery, and our natural instincts scream for security. Yet, it's in these moments that our faith is refined and strengthened. Consider the nobleman in John 4 who traveled twenty miles to find Jesus. His son lay dying, and his position of power meant nothing in the face of this crisis. How often do we find ourselves in similar situations – our worldly resources exhausted, our influence powerless, and our hearts desperate for divine intervention? It's in these moments of complete helplessness that we often find our purest faith. The beauty of this story lies not in the miracle itself, but in the nobleman's response to Jesus's word. When Christ simply said, "Go thy way; thy son liveth," the nobleman didn't demand proof or insist Jesus accompany him. He simply believed and went his way. Like modern-day believers facing their own El Capitan moments, he trusted without seeing the outcome. Just as H.G. Spafford penned "It Is Well with My Soul" in the midst of unimaginable loss, we too are called to trust God's heart when we cannot trace His hand. Our circumstances may scream for immediate resolution, like children begging for ice cream unaware of the greater adventure their parents have planned. Modern life has conditioned us to expect instant gratification. We have dishwashers instead of hand-washing, instant messages instead of letters, and GPS instead of paper maps. Yet God's timing often operates on a different schedule, teaching us that trust is more valuable than immediate results. The nobleman's journey home must have been filled with moments of doubt, yet he continued walking in faith. Similarly, our journey of faith often involves walking away from our preferred solutions, trusting instead in God's unseen plan. Like a pilot trusting an unseen control tower for guidance, we must learn to trust our heavenly Father's directions. Consider the three ways God answers prayer: "go," "no," and "slow." Each answer requires a different type of trust, but all require submission to God's wisdom. When we pray, we often try to instruct God on how to answer, much like trying to grab the wheel from Jesus when He seems to be going "off-road." True faith means letting go of our preferred methods and trusting His perfect will. The Galileans wanted signs and wonders, but Jesus sought true faith. Today, we too must guard against becoming so familiar with God's work that we lose our sense of awe. Like the hedonic treadmill that dulls our appreciation for blessings, we must actively fight against taking God's faithfulness for granted. Our relationship with Christ shouldn't be based on curiosity but conviction. It's not about seeing signs and wonders, but about trusting the One who performs them. When we face our own moments of crisis, may we remember that believing in miracles is good, but trusting in Jesus is better. Just as the nobleman discovered that his son was healed at the very hour Jesus spoke, we too will find that God's timing is perfect. Whether He answers with "go," "no," or "slow," our role remains the same – to trust His heart, believe His word, and walk in faith, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.

In today's message (Dogged About Doing Good) Pastor Cochran teaches God's people to be tenacious and unyielding when it comes to doing good, handling business, and doing what God would have for you to do! You don't need to give any attention to things that have nothing to do with your assignment. God wants you to know that as long as you remain dogged in doing good, know that it is well! You don't have to worry, IT IS WELL! When you are dogged about doing good, you have favor with God! Our website: www.apor-newnan.org  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APORNEWNAN Also enjoy these powerful podcast: Productive Living Podcast: https://aplaceofrefugechurch.podbean.com/ The Way 2 Go Podcast: https://aportrendsetters.podbean.com/ The L.I.F.E Podcast: https://aporrome.podbean.com/

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1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous personthough perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rom 5:1-11 ESV) As we begin a new year, many of us are filled with hope and expectation. We set resolutions and goals in anticipation of making even more of the year ahead. However, we dont really have control over the actual outcomes. Illness can beset us. We may experience the sudden loss of someone close to us. National or global events beyond our control can intrude upon our lives, affecting our businesses, jobs, or financial situations. On top of the uncertainty of life, we are constantly bombarded with stories of what could potentially go wrong. Will the stock market crash and take your retirement fund along with it? Will the economy enter a recession and cause my company or department to downsize? What if this country goes to war with that country? Now, the question that I want to address today is: how do we, as Christians, think about and address the uncertainty of this world and suffering when it happens to us and those close to us? When contemplating this passage in Romans, I thought of a story and what it means to rejoice in suffering as a believer in the risen Messiah. This story is about a Chicago lawyer and businessman named Horatio Spafford. Now, Horatio had invested much of his wealth in real estate in the city. Unfortunately, most of these properties, and thus much of his investment, were reduced to ash during the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871. The fallout from this loss and the work that he and other property owners in Chicago had to undertake to rebuild and restore would take years. The scale of this tragedy cannot be overstated. Over 17,000 buildings were destroyed, and more than 100,000 people (1/3 of Chicagos population) were homeless. If this were not enough, the Spaffords young son died of scarlet fever at the age of four not long after the fire. A couple of years after the fire, Horatio decided to take his family on a trip to Europe to escape the constant work and stress of rebuilding. Who wouldnt want to get away after all that had happened? He and his family were also going to meet up with and help the famous evangelist D.L. Moody, who was working on the continent at the time. However, some urgent business came up that needed his attention as the trip neared, so Horatio sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him. One week after the ship set sail, it was violently struck in an accident by another boat at two in the morning. Because of how the ships collided, the vessel the Spafford family was on sank within 12 minutes. Of the 313 people on board, 226 perished. All four of Horatios daughters perished that night. His wife, Anna, was found unconscious, held up by floating debris. Nine days after the accident, Anna landed in Europe and sent a telegram. It read, Saved alone. What shall I do? Upon receiving the message, Horatio booked the first passage he could find. However, this was during the 1800s, so this was far from a rapid process. One night, the captain called Horatio aside and informed him that they were currently sailing over the location where the ship carrying his family had sunk. As I contemplate this situation, I cant help but ask myself how I would have responded. Would I be overcome by anguish or anger? Would I have broken down and wept or shouted out words of rage at God for allowing such a thing to happen? Instead of either of these things, Horatio returned to his cabin to attempt to try to sleep and felt a sense of comfort and hope overcome him. He wrote down these words, It is well; the will of God be done. These words would soon become his timeless hymn that resounds with so many gospel truths. The name of that hymn is It Is Well with My Soul. It is worth reflecting on that there is a similar story in the Bible. Job, the man God Himself called blameless and upright, lost everything he owned in a single day. Additionally, his sons and daughters all died that very same day. Job responded to these events with the statement, Naked I came from my mothers womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21). Notice the similarities? These are not words of quiet resignation or defeat. The LORD may give, and He may take away. In the words of Horatio, the will of God will be done. However, regardless of what happened to these two men, their response is instructive and encouraging beyond belief. Despite what comes, the believer can say, Blessed be the name of the LORD, and It is well with my soul. Now, these stories may be inspiring, but youd be right in asking, How do I develop that kind of abiding faith and trust in God? It is so easy to marvel at the faith of others. But the reality is that knowing the stories is not enough. These same types of tragedies, and many more besides, can happen in our lives. Thankfully, as in all things, God does not leave us alone. And I know this because the verses we are looking at today have been my anchor through the most challenging times in my life. They acted as my north star, the way that God guided me through trials and kept me traveling on the path that leads to Him. So, lets dive in. 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. The chapter opens with the word, therefore. This means that what Paul, the apostle who wrote this letter, is about to say directly follows what he has already said. It is essential to keep this at the forefront of our minds as we read scripture; what is the context? Uncountable numbers of irresponsible teachings have come through taking verses out of context and misapplying them. So, lets take a high-level view of what was said in the letter before our passage today. Paul was writing to the believers in Rome in anticipation of him traveling there, something he had long wanted to do. He wanted to accomplish several things. The letter to the Romans primarily concerns the gospel; Paul wanted to unify the church in Rome around the good news of Christ. Romans is a great place to start if you want a comprehensive understanding of the gospel message. Additionally, Paul wanted to prepare for the missionary journey he was planning to Spain; he wanted the Roman believers to help him on his way after he was able to visit them. Finally, Paul wanted to get in front of a growing division in the church between Jewish and Gentile believers. The focus for our study today aligns with the primary purpose for which Paul was writing: the good news of what Jesus has done. Or, as we more commonly call it, the gospel. Paul starts his letter by pointing to the grandeur of the universe as proof of Gods existence and that we can even learn some things about Him through creation. However, many, instead of worshiping the God who created everything, worshiped the things He made. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but theybecame futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,23andexchanged the glory ofthe immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24ThereforeGod gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, tothe dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,25because they exchanged the truth about God fora lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator,who is blessed forever! Amen. (Rom 1:20-25) Paul addressed this because pagan worship was the norm in the Roman Empire. It is important to note here that the people Paul is talking about were the ones who exchanged God for created things in nature. God allowed them to choose and gave them up to what they wanted. N.T. Wright perhaps sums up this concept best. You become like what you worship. When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of your worship. N.T. Wright This is a critical point that Paul made. It spoke directly to the heart of Roman culture and society. And it speaks directly to ours as well. The Romans, like the Greeks, worshipped a pantheon of gods who were very human in nature. They were spiteful, filled with lust, and sought their own pleasure above the good of others. Paul was saying that if you venerate that type of activity, you will act the same way. Now, consider our culture today; we may not wrap it up in religious language and ritual, but it is the same. Think about the lyrics of many of the most popular songs today. Consider the lives and actions of celebrities and others that our society lifts up and puts on a pedestal. Reflect on how often we are told in advertising by the rich, powerful, and famous how if we only buy this item or consume this service, we will be as happy and fulfilled as they are, or supposedly are. Think about how society as a whole treats marriage as trivial or that it is entirely ok to objectify other human beings, especially with what is deemed acceptable to view on the internet for our own pleasure. Paul then addresses those who did know about the one true God, namely the Jewish nation. However, instead of commending them, Paul has a very different message. What he said was precisely what Jesus did. It doesnt matter that you come from the line of Abraham or how well you know the Old Testament Law. God cares about and judges people based on what we actually do. 12For all who have sinnedwithout the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.13Forit is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (Rom 2:12-13) And if we stop for a minute and honestly look at our own lives, this is what we see. We know at our core that there is an absolute standard for good and evil. We know that saying one thing and then doing another is both hypocritical and wrong. We have all, myself included, done things that genuinely hurt other people, damaged relationships, and were contrary to what we know in the deepest parts of ouor being are good and right and holy. Paul quoted the Psalms to sum up this point. 10None is righteous, no, not one;11no one understands;no one seeks for God.12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;no one does good,not even one. (Rom 3:10b-12) Now, this is a pretty bleak letter so far. This is not something that you read at the beginning of a year to feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Were left with all of these questions that seem pretty important and rather urgent. What if there is a creator of the universe? Spoiler alert: there is. And what if He genuinely cares about right and wrong and how we treat each other? Another spoiler alert: He does. If weve all fallen short, and there are consequences for that, is there something that can be done to restore ourselves to God? And here is the best spoiler alert: There is. Paul tells us how this happens. 21But now apart from the law the righteousness of Godhas been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.22This righteousnessis given through faithinJesus Christto all who believe.There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,23for all have sinnedand fall short of the glory of God,24and all are justifiedfreely by his gracethrough the redemptionthat came by Christ Jesus.25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,through the shedding of his blood (Rom 3:21-25a, NIV) And there it is, the gospel, the good news that Paul based his entire letter around. There is a God who created both us and the universe we live in. He is perfectly good and, therefore, has made a moral law that we all are to live by. However, all of us fall short and sin. This causes a separation between us and God. However, God did not see fit to leave us as we are. He sent Jesus to live the life we never could and die the death we deserved so that we could be reconciled to Him. This is the good news that Paul was proclaiming. So, we return to the opening verses of our passage today. 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We now see what the therefore is there for. We were separated from God, but we can now be justified before him by faith. And because of this good news, that we have been justified by faith, certain things happen in the believer's life. First, we have peace with God. You see, it wasnt that we were just separated from God. We were, in fact, working against Him and were enemies. In another letter, Paul said, 21Once you were alienated from God and were enemiesin your mindsbecause ofyour evil behavior. But now he has reconciledyou by Christs physical bodythrough death to present youholy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Col 1:21-22, NIV). We just wrapped up an extremely deep study of the book of Ephesians here at Meadowbrooke. Remember what we were told in that letter about the state we were in before being saved? And you weredead in the trespasses and sins2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, followingthe prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work inthe sons of disobedience3among whom we all once lived inthe passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the bodyand the mind, andwere by naturechildren of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Eph 2:1-3) When Paul says that we now have peace with God, he doesnt mean that we have a tranquil state of mind or something like that. Instead, when we become followers of Jesus, we go from being against God or an enemy of God to having peace with Him. Remember what Paul said earlier in the letter. Nobody is righteous; nobody does good. But it doesnt stop there. We arent just in some truce or ceasefire with God. What has happened is so much more glorious and incredible than that. We also, through Jesus, have obtained grace. Now, grace can be a mysterious-sounding religious word. All it means is that somebody has received unmerited or unearned favor. It means we dont deserve the favor or good things God freely bestows on us. Remember, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God; we all were, by nature, children of wrath. The Greek word that is translated here as access literally means to approach or to bring into. We are brought into Gods grace and can actually have a personal relationship with Him. How much has changed because of what Jesus has done for us. We who were enemies not only have peace with God but also can draw near to Him and have a personal relationship with our Creator. Finally, we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And given what we have just read, there is so much to rejoice in. But again, there is something even more glorious behind these words. We rejoice not just in our newfound peace with God or our ability to be brought into His grace. We rejoice in the hope of something else. The word hope in our English language is quite weak. Typically, it means something like, I hope this year is better than the last or I hope my team wins the Super Bowl this year. It expresses the desire for something to be true, but with the realization that it may not turn out that way. However, the Greek word employed here means something more like joyful and confident expectation. Our hope is in something that we are confident and sure of. Tim Keller remarked on this passage that, Christian hope is not a hopeful wish it is a hope-filled certainty. But what is it that we are hopeful for? If we were to poll random people about what they most hoped for or were most looking forward to regarding the promises of God, we would likely get a broad range of answers. Many would almost certainly revolve around seeing loved ones again or being eternally happy and without pain or suffering. However, notice what Paul says here. His focus is on the glory of God. More than his own happiness or desires, the reason for Pauls rejoicing is in the hope of being in the presence of Gods glory. John Murray remarked on this passage, [Believers] are interested in the manifestation of the glory of God for its own sake. The glory of God is their chief end and they long for and hasten unto that day when with undimmed vision they will behold the glory of God in its fullest exhibition and vindication. What this means is that the hope of the Christian is not in the hope of our wants, desires, and comfort. Instead, our hope is in being with and living within the glory of God. The focus is on God, not on us. John Piper put this better than anybody else I have heard. He said, The critical question for our generationand for every generation is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? Pauls answer would be a resounding no. What makes the restored heaven and earth what they will be is that we will finally be with God in all His infinite glory. Everything else pales in comparison to that. And any heaven without that is no real heaven at all. Now, Paul has covered a lot of ground in his letter so far. The people listening to this being read for the first time would have been on a real rollercoaster of a ride. First, they heard about this God who is powerful and mighty enough to create the entire universe in which we live. But then they heard that this God is also perfectly good and, therefore, has a moral law. They, just like all of us, broke that law. And they, just like us, broke it repeatedly. They heard about how this created a separation between humanity and God, a chasm we could not overcome ourselves. However, when everything seemed lost and without hope, they heard about how God, through Jesus, redeemed them, and they were now justified. This justification was not through anything they had done but what Jesus had done for them. They heard that they did not have to try to earn Gods merit, and in fact, they never could. They heard that what God really sought after was their hearts and faith in Him. Finally, because of that faith, the believer has peace with God, access to Gods grace, and the hope-filled certainty of witnessing God in His full glory one day. What an experience it must have been to be the first people to hear this letter being read. Can you imagine hearing this fantastic news? Then, the church in Rome would have heard the words, Not only that Wait! There is more!?! What more could there be after being told this fantastic news? I can only imagine sitting there and anticipating new promises and hopes the apostle was about to relay. Instead, the audience heard, Not only that, but werejoice in our sufferings. Wait what? We rejoice in our suffering? Werent we talking about drawing close to God and witnessing His glory? But this is reality, isnt it? When we decide to follow Jesus, all the hardships and suffering weve experienced dont magically disappear. We still get sick. Our finances dont magically improve; we all dont suddenly receive private jets and mansions. We still lose loved ones, and we all certainly still experience getting older and all the wear and tear that comes from that. As I reflect upon this past year, the single word that comes most to mind is difficult. This was a challenging year for our church family, and we had to go through things, including church discipline and the termination of a staff person in a pastoral role. Individuals and families in our church have also been going through extremely difficult things. There have been cancer diagnoses, losses of family members, struggles with chronic illnesses, sudden visits to the ER, heart issues, urgent and completely unexpected surgeries, and many, many more things besides. Personally, this last year, especially the past six months, has, if Im being completely honest, been extremely difficult. Due to an autoimmune disease, my health spiraled to a place I have not experienced in over a decade. This resulted in a 10-day stay in a hospital after losing 15% of my body weight and a substantial amount of internal bleeding. But, more importantly, it put a lot of strain on my marriage and meant I was less present as a father than I should be. The stark reality is that suffering is still a part of our lives. It has real impacts on us and those around us. But, as well see, faith in Jesus is not about the cessation of pain and suffering but instead giving that suffering over to God in faith that He will use it for good. Paul lays out how this looks for us: 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Notice here that Paul says we rejoice in our sufferings, not because of our sufferings. Paul does not say that suffering suddenly becomes pleasurable for us or trivially easy to endure. He does not say that God is giving us a way to prove ourselves to Him or earn His favor by persevering through hardship. Instead, we rejoice in our sufferings because of something we know. We know that suffering can produce something within us. That something is endurance. For most of my life, and by that, I mean since I was eight, I have participated in endurance sports. This has included distance running, cycling over 100 miles in a day over multiple mountain passes, and summiting 20,000 ft peaks. I bring this up because I have learned a lot about myself and quite a bit about endurance through these activities. The first is that endurance is not something magical you hope to have on the day of your event. It is something that you train for diligently. It may take months or even years in some cases to train your body and mind to accomplish the goal you have set before yourself. It is possible to train and not reach the goals you set. However, if you dont train, the goals will forever remain out of reach. And the thing about training is that a substantial amount of suffering can be involved. Mile repeats hurt. Hill training on a bike can be painful. Interval sessions have left me draped over the handlebars of my indoor trainer like a rag doll. Watching cyclists or other endurance athletes achieve the incredible can be awe-inspiring, often making it look easy. However, it isnt. What we witness when we watch world-class athletes is the outcome of a lifetime of training and preparation. And I can tell you from experience, every day Ive had where Ive looked like this, cycling up mountain passes feeling in great shape and like I could tackle the biggest of obstacles, Ive had many more days where Ive looked a bit more like this. The key here is that, like in athletics, in life, endurance is not something that happens automatically or magically. It is something that is produced. And often, the production of endurance happens through the crucible of suffering. But, unlike endurance training for sports, the type of endurance Paul talks about is not the end goal. It serves a greater purpose. You see, our character is also changing when we develop spiritual endurance. Now, this word in Greek doesnt just mean something like, He is a really good person and has good character. Instead, it is about something proven, or something tested and found to be approved. An example of this can be seen in Pauls letter to the Philippians concerning his protg, Timothy. 22But you know Timothy'sproven worth, howas a sonwith a fatherhe has served with me in the gospel.(Phil 2:22) The phrase proven worth is the same word that is translated as character. And to some extent, weve all experienced this. If we have endured something before, when we have to endure it again, there is a confidence we didnt have before. Or, thought of in a different way, if you had to go into battle with somebody, would you rather go with a special forces soldier who had been on multiple deployments or somebody who has never been through military training but plays their fair share of Tom Clancy video games? The choice is easy, right? What Paul is saying here is that when we go through suffering, endurance is produced. And when we endure our trials and tribulations, we are tested successfully or, as Paul says, our worth is proven. But Paul does not stop there. He says that this testedness produces something else: hope. And here we return to this idea of hope. Remember, this idea Paul is talking about can be best thought of as a hope-filled certainty. As we go through suffering, the endurance and character that result produces an ever-greater certainty that God is exactly who He has said He is and that His promises are sure. Paul then offers a proof of this. He states that hope will never put us to shame because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. In fact, the relationship between the believer and the Holy Spirit is so close that he has been poured into our hearts. I had mentioned earlier that these verses have been my anchor verses through suffering. That is not an understatement in any way. I had grown up in the church. In fact, I heard hymns and the words of the Bible before I was born. As I grew up, I did all the church things, camps, and confirmation; I even started participating in lay-level leadership roles in my church. If any of those things sound a bit foreign, it is because I grew up in the Episcopal tradition. Ultimately, instead of letting God into my heart and being the Lord of my entire life, I was going through the motions. Especially in college, my life looked no different than anybody elses. Remember those verses from Ephesians about living in the passions of our flesh and carrying out the desires of the body and the mind? That was me. Until that is, God got ahold of my heart. A group of us in ROTC decided that we wanted to start getting serious about our faith and started going to church together. We formed our own Bible study and as a small community of college-aged believers, we began trying to figure out what it meant to be Jesus followers. To make a long story very short, one of the members of this group would ultimately become my wife. As we deepened in our faith together as a group, I was drawn to what God was doing in her life. However, two weeks after we started dating, I started noticing an immense amount of pain in my abdomen and, even more concerning, evidence of internal bleeding. I started losing weight at an alarming rate and was ultimately diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called ulcerative colitis. Effectively, my immune system goes into overdrive and starts attacking and causing ulcers and a crazy amount of inflammation in my large intestine. Unfortunately, I have a rather severe form of the disease that affects not just a part of the intestine, but the entire thing. As is common with autoimmune diseases, finding the therapy that worked for me took a long time. Because of the severity of my diagnosis, this ultimately led me to being hospitalized seven times in the first 18 months following the onset of my symptoms. In addition to the pain, frustration, and confusion over what was happening, other things also started falling apart. A military career was now no longer an option for me. Because of the impact the disease was having on my body, I was sleeping 12-16 hours a day and was unable to continue pursuing my master's program. What is more, because of how the insurance I had purchased through the university was structured, it did not cover costs from chronic illnesses beyond $20,000. But through it all, God was working on my heart and my mind. He was showing me things about himself that I would likely never have learned had it not been for this. He was teaching me that my future job was not what defined me. Who I am in Jesus is what defines me. He was teaching me that the highest goal in life is not academic or professional achievement (Im a bit of an A-type personality and struggle with making my life about accomplishments). Instead, He showed me that following Him is the highest purpose in life. Now, perhaps the most incredible thing about this entire story is that Michaela stayed by my side throughout all of it. We had only recently started dating, but she was there for everything. I can still remember her voice as I was coming out of anesthesia after the scoping procedure that resulted in the diagnosis of the disease. I was insanely sick, my planned career was completely shattered, treatments werent working, and I had a sum of medical debt that was growing increasingly large. There were so many times when I felt absolutely lost and without hope. Yet, because of this community of people, especially Michaela, I was constantly reminded of God's goodness and how He works all things for the good of those who love Him, even if we dont see it in the moment. The Bible was my source of refuge, reminding me of the eternal promises of God that transcend our momentary afflictions. Things ultimately improved for me, and through a lot of help from my doctors and a lot of prayer, my condition was able to be controlled. There were still some rough points, and I experienced the occasional flare-up, but things returned to normal. Michaela and I got married, we found a way to pay off the medical debt, and life seemed to be going just fine. But what I didnt know at the time was that as I was going through all my medical issues and seeing Michaelas character displayed, God was showing me what it means to stand beside somebody as they are suffering. About two years after we got married, Michaela started showing symptoms of something, but the doctors couldnt figure out what it was. Finally, they had her stay on a heart monitor for an extended time, and the results were so concerning that the hospital in Laramie told us that we needed to come to the hospital here in Cheyenne because they were not prepared to deal with whatever the issue was. When Michaela arrived here, they took an Xray, and they found out that there was a mass about 12cm in diameter in her chest next to her heart. We were once again told that she needed to go to another hospital because the one here had no idea what was going on. However, this time, she had to travel via ambulance. We had come in the same vehicle, but as she was leaving in an ambulance, I followed in the car we brought over. It was such a good thing that it was the middle of the night because I was an absolute mess. If there had been any traffic whatsoever, I probably would have crashed. On that drive, I was confronted with an absolutely petrifying truth. There was nothing I could do for my wife but pray. I was helpless in the face of whatever it was that she had to face. I could not protect her, and I could not save her. And this was an earth-shattering realization for me. Of course, we all intellectually know that our time here is limited and that when it is time for us to leave this world, there is nothing we can do to stop it for ourselves or those we love. However, facing that reality directly is an entirely different notion. The radical realization that I had was that in this situation, she was entirely in the Lords hands. The even more radical realization I would only have reflecting later on, was that this is true every moment of every day. I just dont live like it. To capture this idea in his book The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis wrote, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. This has been precisely my experience. The eternal truths that God exists, that we desperately need Him, and that He alone is sufficient for all our needs are sometimes most clearly heard when we are in our most desperate times of need. Upon arriving at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, we learned that the mass was a tumor, and it was an advanced stage of lymphoma. The doctors recommended that she start an aggressive form of chemotherapy immediately. We didnt have time to go home and talk about it. We didnt have time to prepare in case the therapy made it difficult or impossible to have kids. It was almost as if everything had been put onto tracks, and we were just along for the ride. Now, soon after all of this happened a good friend of mine who has been a mentor in many ways to me came by and prayed with us. Her prayers included pleas for healing, comfort, and everything else we typically lift up to God during these types of events. However, she prayed something else as well. She prayed that our hearts and minds would be open to what God had to teach us during this time of trial. It literally felt like a physical switch turned in my head. Despite all that I had been through, and all God had done in my own heart during my battles with illness, I had not stopped to consider that God may have something to teach us here as well. And teach He did. I learned how incredibly strong of a woman He made when He created my wife. I learned that I am not sufficient for her; only Jesus is. I learned that life can be extraordinarily fleeting and what we consider normal and act like will go on forever can end in an instant. Michaela spent the following months going to Denver for a week of treatment every three weeks. I tagged along and slept on the pullout bed on the couch in her room. That was our lives for almost four months: two weeks at home and one in the hospital. When I had to travel for work, her mom took my place. Now, you may be wondering who the better caretaker in our relationship is when the other is undergoing adversity. The answer is Michaela. You may also be wondering who deals with suffering better. The answer is also Michaela. Ultimately, Michaela completed the chemo regimen and has been in full remission for almost 10 years. Despite not being able to make alternative preparations, we have two incredible boys who are miracles in the fullest sense of the word. It can be easy to praise God and extol His greatness when things work out the way we hope and pray they will. However, there will come a day when I and everybody else whom I love will draw in their last breath. And in those moments, God still deserves all the glory and all the praise. I want to relay one more story before I wrap up about one of those times. My stepmoms father, my grandfather, or as we called him, Papou (that part of my family is Greek), had been extremely sick for a long time. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt. His wife, my Yaiyia, was a missionary in Kenya when he proposed to her in a letter. After starting their young family, they moved to Athens so he could pastor a church while they served as missionaries. When they moved back to the States, their home was always a place of love where all were welcome. Toward the end of his life, he was unable to care for or even feed himself and had to be placed in a home to receive the care he needed. As the end of his life was drawing ever closer, he came down with a severe infection that left him almost entirely incapacitated. One day, some of our dearest family friends were visiting him. As they prepared to leave, everybody gathered to pray, potentially for the last time, over this man who had lived his life faithfully for God. However, before anybody else had a chance to speak, this saint (by the way, if you are a follower of Jesus, you are a saint as well) who could not feed himself or even sit up started to pray. I was not there to hear these words, but they still reverberate in the deepest part of my being more than a decade later. Our precious heavenly father, he said, we just cant thank you enough. You have been so good to us. That is the strength that a life lived in the service and love of God bestows upon a person. The Christian lives not in quiet resignation in the face of a world that can be so cruel and cause so much suffering. Instead, the Christian can raise a triumphant cry that in our weakness, the strength of the Lord will be made perfect, and that is enough. We can, as Job did, bless the name of the Lord, come whatever may. We see this in the letter to the Corinthians: 9But he [God] said to me [Paul],My grace is sufficient for you, formy power is made perfect in weakness.Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so thatthe power of Christ may rest upon me.10For the sake of Christ, then,I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. Forwhen I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor 12:9-11) This is why Paul ends this passage with a reiteration of the gospel message. Even though each of us who follow Jesus has the real experience of having the Holy Spirit residing within us, there also is an objective truth for all to see. Christ came and died for us while we were still sinners. And this point is even more important than the point that we are physically broken and endure sufferings in this world. That point is that we are spiritually broken and separated from God, desperately in need of a Savior. Reflect with me on these closing verses. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous personthough perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Jesus did not wait until we were perfect and had everything figured out before he came to die in our place. Instead, he came when we were still in sin, weak, and enemies of God. Unlike us, who so often act out of self-regard or do something because we view somebody as good and deserving, Jesus came to save us while we were still standing in complete opposition to God. This is the incredible news of the gospel. As much pain and suffering, as much physical brokenness that we may experience in this world, it is nothing compared to the spiritual sickness we suffer because of our separation from God. We all were far from God before coming to Christ, but he died in our place regardless and rose again, conquering death. We are justified, reconciled, and saved by what he did. And if you dont know Jesus yet, all you must do is accept him as your Lord and Savior and begin walking with him. Before we leave, I wanted to review some of the things I have learned from other believers and scripture about how to endure times of suffering. None of this is groundbreaking, but it works. Dont wait until you are in suffering to prepare If you wait until the morning of a marathon to train, it wont go well for you. The same is true here. If you wait until the moment of your trial to prepare, you are too late. Be in your Bible daily The stories of those who suffer in scripture are incredibly instructive and helpful. The principles you will learn from this book will help you in your time of need. But I never would have had these verses constantly in my mind and nourishing my soul if I had not read them. God uses scripture to help His followers in their time of need. Build relationships with fellow believersWhen Michaela and I have experienced times of suffering, it is the people of God, the Church, who have helped us more than anybody else. I have experienced the benefit of having somebody just come sit with you. Recently, while I was in the hospital, several friends visited throughout my stay. Mostly, we talked about the goodness of God. It helped me raise my eyes above my situation and stay focused on my Lord and Savior. Pray without ceasing Pray for those who are going through trials. Ask others to pray for you as you endure suffering. The Church was designed so that each member could help one another. And as you pray, follow Gods Spirit in how you can help. If you feel drawn to visit somebody who is ailing, go. If you feel called to cook them a meal, do it. Look for what God is trying to teach you Until our dying breath, we are running our race. As believers, we are walking down that narrow path that leads to Jesus. That path can be difficult and filled with obstacles sometimes. But even in our worst suffering, God is faithful, and He works all things for the good of those who love Him. If you let Him, He will develop in you: endurance, character, and a hope which will never be put to shame. Even in our greatest trials, He is still so incredibly good.

En 1873, Horatio Spafford, un abogado exitoso, perdió a sus cuatro hijas en un trágico naufragio mientras viajaban a Europa. Poco después, mientras cruzaba el océano para reunirse con su esposa, escribió el famoso himno "It Is Well with My Soul" (Está bien con mi alma). A pesar de su dolor, Spafford encontró consuelo y esperanza en la presencia de Dios. El Adviento nos recuerda que, aunque enfrentemos tormentas en la vida, Jesús es nuestra ancla. Su nacimiento nos asegura que Dios está con nosotros en medio de cada dificultad. Su paz y Su presencia no eliminan las pruebas, pero nos sostienen y nos dan esperanza para el futuro. Hoy, cualquiera que sea tu tormenta, recuerda que Jesús está contigo. Él es tu refugio y tu esperanza. Como Spafford, confía en que Dios tiene el control, incluso cuando no entiendes el porqué. La Biblia dice en Hebreos 6:19: "La cual tenemos como segura y firme ancla del alma, y que penetra hasta dentro del velo."

En 1873, Horatio Spafford, un abogado exitoso, perdió a sus cuatro hijas en un trágico naufragio mientras viajaban a Europa. Poco después, mientras cruzaba el océano para reunirse con su esposa, escribió el famoso himno "It Is Well with My Soul" traducido al español como Estoy bien. A pesar de su dolor, Spafford encontró consuelo y esperanza en la presencia de Dios. El Adviento nos recuerda que, aunque enfrentemos tormentas en la vida, Jesús es nuestra ancla de fe. Su nacimiento nos asegura que Dios está con nosotros en medio de cada dificultad. Su paz y Su presencia no eliminan las pruebas, pero nos sostienen y nos dan esperanza para el futuro. Hoy, cualquiera que sea tu tormenta, recuerda que Jesús está contigo. Él es tu refugio y tu esperanza. Como Spafford, confía en que Dios tiene el control, incluso cuando no entiendes el porqué. La Biblia dice en Hebreos 6:19: "La cual tenemos como segura y firme ancla del alma, y que penetra hasta dentro del velo".

On today's special edition of Family Talk, Pastor Chuck Swindoll, in a timeless sermon on the topic gratitude, reflects on Psalm 103, in which King David expresses thanks to God for pardoning his sin, redeeming his life from the pit, and crowning him with love and compassion. The lyrics of the classic hymn, "It Is Well with My Soul," reveals why we are so grateful. "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!" To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/707/29

Gratitude is more than a response to good circumstances—it's a deliberate act of aligning our hearts with God's will. In this episode, we explore the profound power of thanksgiving, not just during moments of joy but also in seasons of sorrow. Drawing inspiration from Scripture, the lives of faithful believers, and the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul," we reflect on how gratitude transforms pain into peace and hope into joy.Join us as we uncover timeless wisdom from figures like Charles Spurgeon, G.K. Chesterton, and C.S. Lewis, and learn how to cultivate a life of thankfulness that transcends our circumstances. Discover how giving thanks is not just an act of praise but a priority and a way of life, offering peace even in life's storms.Watch all our sermons on our youtube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm

It Is Well with My SoulSung by Sandi PattyWhen peace like a river, attendeth my wayWhen sorrows like sea billows rollWhatever my lot, thou hast taught me to sayIt is well, it is well, with my soulIt is wellWith my soulIt is well, it is well with my soulThough Satan should buffet, though trials should comeLet this blest assurance controlThat Christ has regarded my helpless estateAnd hath shed His own blood for my soulIt is well (it is well)With my soul (with my soul)It is well, it is well with my soulMy sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!My sin, not in part but the wholeIs nailed to the cross, and I bear it no morePraise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!It is well (it is well)With my soul (with my soul)It is well, it is well with my soulIt is well (it is well)With my soul (with my soul)It is well, it is well with my soul.Home FreeSung by Wayne WatsonI'm trying hard not to think you unkindBut Heavenly FatherIf You know my heartSurely You can read my mindGood people underneath a sea of griefSome get up and walk awaySome will find ultimate reliefHome free, eventuallyAt the ultimate healingWe will be home freeHome free, oh I've got a feelingAt the ultimate healingWe will be home freeOut in the corridors, we pray for lifeA mother for her babyA husband for his wifeOh, sometimes the good die youngIt's sad but trueAnd while we pray for one more heartbeatThe real comfort is with YouYou know pain has little mercySuffering's no respecter of ageOf race or positionI know every prayer gets answeredBut the hardest one to pray is slow to comeOh Lord! Not mine! But your will be doneOh, Let it be(Home free, eventually)Gonna' go on home(At the ultimate healing, we will be home free)(Home free, oh I've got a feeling)I've Got a feeling(At the ultimate healing, we will be home free)Gonna' be home, home (home free)(Eventually) oh! at the ultimate healingGonna be home freeHome free oh, it's more than a feelingAt the ultimate healing, we're gonna be home (home free) home, home freeWe are gonna' be homeThe ultimate healing (we will be home)Gonna' be home freeGonna' be homeAin't it good to be homeHomeGonna' be homeGonna' be home free

Join Janie for meditating and memorizing 1 John 2:15-17. We'll learn what it means to have the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life and how we can refrain from falling into this pit!Scripture Memory Begins at 21:16Bible Verses Referenced:1 John 2:15-171 John 2:10Genesis 3:6Luke 4:1-13Hebrews 4:15Titus 2:11-12Revelation 21:1Luke 21:33Revelation 19:6-8John 15:5Psalm 23Joshua 24:15"It Is Well" by Bradley KnightSisters with Swords is produced and edited by Holly Knight. Original music by the Minister of Funk and husband of the year, Bradley Knight, can be found here. You can find Holly's book Stubborn Obedience on Amazon! And don't forget to visit Janie's restaurant, The Biscuit Bar, if you're in the DFW Area. Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with your friends and follow us on Instagram! We are so grateful for you, sister, and are cheering you on as you wield your sword.@sisterswithswords@heyhollyknight@janiejoburkett

In this timely episode titled "Election 2024: Hope and Comfort for the Christian No Matter the Outcome" This episode offers a blend of spiritual encouragement and practical advice to help you navigate through these turbulent times.

"It Is Well" - Taylor James (Guest Speaker) Learn more about us at livingstonescma.org.

Hymn Overview – #1003 It Is Well with My Soul Author: Horatio G. Spafford (1828-1888) First Line/Chorus: “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,... The post 824 Hear Hymn – #1003 It is Well With My Soul appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

We continue the summer speaker series with Guest Speaker: Mike Cope.

It Is Well with My Soul Closing Music from the June 23, 2024 Worship Service Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio

The Catalina Worship Team closes the service with It Is Well.

In this episode of "Rhythms That Restore," Cherisse explores the concepts of soul care and self-care. She shares her enthusiasm for the New "Summer Series" on soul care, inviting listeners to join in self-discovery and spiritual growth. Cherisse emphasizes the importance of reflection, using Psalm 143 to discuss surrender and the need for spiritual restoration. She differentiates between soul care and the popular self-care movement, sharing her own battles with anxiety to connect with broader societal issues. The episode also recounts Horatio Spafford's story from the song IT IS WELL, encouraging reflection on what brings peace to one's soul and highlighting the importance of internal and spiritual wellness. Welcome to Rhythms That Restore (00:00:02) Cherisse welcomes the audience and expresses excitement for the soul care series. Connecting Through Summer Soul Care (00:00:27) Cherisse encourages listeners to share their experiences and insights from the summer soul care series. Exploring Psalms and Surrender (00:03:20) Cherisse discusses the significance of spending time in the Psalms and focuses on Psalm 143 as a cry for help and surrender. Delving into "Soul Keeping" (00:05:39) Cherisse introduces the book "Soul Keeping" by John Ortberg and emphasizes the importance of nurturing the soul over the self. Distinguishing Soul Care and Self Care (00:06:51) Cherisse discusses the difference between soul care and self-care, highlighting the significance of focusing on the soul. Challenges of Self-Focus (00:10:15) Cherisse shares a story about the challenges of finding worth in external factors and the impact on the soul. The Impact of Neglecting the Soul (00:11:36) Cherisse discusses the consequences of neglecting the soul while focusing solely on self-care. Relevance of Faith and Community (00:15:35) Cherisse emphasizes the importance of faith, community, and gathering for the well-being of the soul. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join our "Rythms that Restore" Community: Click below and pull up a chair with us and walk through life IN COMMUNITY and beside others who are learning and putting these new Rhythms in place. Click: https://www.facebook.com/groups/339272845793051/ -------------------------------------- Follow "Rhythms that Restore Podcast" on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhythmsthatrestorepodcast?igsh=Z3lmY2UzcXZzMTlq&utm_source=qr -------------------------------------------- Tune In- Subscribe, Rate, and Share: If you found value in this episode, be be sure to subscribe, rate, and share with "Rhythms that Restore" Podcast with a friend who can be encouraged through the message. Help us share this incredible transformative message of Gods word through the beautiful act of "ceasing to strive" and learning to "simply BE". ------------------------------------ Connect more with me on Instagram, Facebook and Email: Lets Chat: cherissehixson@hotmail.com  Facebook: Cherisse Mathias Hixson  DM on Instagram: @cherissehixson01

Today's sermon is It Is Well by Sandy Adams Find more teaching from Pastor Sandy at www.sandyadams.org

On today's episode, Janie takes us through  memorizing and meditating on a familiar passage of scripture and shows us new insight into our Good Shepherd!Scripture Memory Begins at 34:03Bible Verses Referenced:Psalm 23:1-3John 10:1-161 Peter 1:3Exodus 15:232 Corinthians 5:171 Corinthians 6:2-3Romans 8:16-17John 4:13-141 John 1:9Psalm 139:23-24Colossians 1:15-22"It Is Well" by Bradley KnightSisters with Swords is produced and edited by Holly Knight. Original music by the Minister of Funk and husband of the year, Bradley Knight, can be found here. You can find Holly's book Stubborn Obedience on Amazon! And don't forget to visit Janie's restaurant, The Biscuit Bar, if you're in the DFW Area. Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with your friends and follow us on Instagram! We are so grateful for you, sister, and are cheering you on as your wield your sword.@sisterswithswords@heyhollyknight@janiejoburkett

A new MP3 sermon from Northland Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: It Is Well Subtitle: Funeral for Dave Long Speaker: Alex M. Lindsay Broadcaster: Northland Bible Church Event: Funeral Service Date: 2/23/2024 Bible: 2 Kings 4:8-37; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Length: 30 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Northland Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: It Is Well Subtitle: Funeral for Dave Long Speaker: Alex M. Lindsay Broadcaster: Northland Bible Church Event: Funeral Service Date: 2/23/2024 Bible: 2 Kings 4:8-37; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Length: 30 min.

On today's episode, Janie takes us through every piece of armor laid out in Ephesians 6:14-18. You'll learn that God has given you everything required for your daily protection and has equipped you with the ultimate Weapon to ensure your victory.Scripture Memory begins at 21:37Bible Verses Referenced:Ephesians 6:14-18John 14:27Mark 9:23-242 Corinthians 10:5Hebrews 4:12Romans 8:26-27"It Is Well" by Bradley KnightSisters with Swords is produced and edited by Holly Knight. Original music by the Minister of Funk and husband of the year, Bradley Knight, can be found here. You can find Holly's book Stubborn Obedience on Amazon! And don't forget to visit Janie's restaurant, The Biscuit Bar, if you're in the DFW Area. Please like, subscribe, and share this episode with your friends and follow us on Instagram! We are so grateful for you, sister, and are cheering you on as your wield your sword.@sisterswithswords@heyhollyknight@janiejoburkett

In this final lesson of the It Is Well series, we look at Matthew 6 where Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow. Music:Adventure by Alexander NakaradaLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6092-adventureLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseMelodic Interlude Two by Alexander NakaradaLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6394-melodic-interlude-twoLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseBeyond The Horizon by Alexander NakaradaLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6100-beyond-the-horizonLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When Lydia Gardner joined us on the Wednesdays With Watson Podcast, she brought with her a story that interweaves suffering with an unwavering strength of spirit. Her journey—a testament to faith's power in the darkest times—is one she shared openly, navigating through personal trials, from the anguish of infertility and premature childbirth to the resilience required in facing unemployment and time in the NICU. Our emotional discussion took a heartfelt turn as Lydia recounted the communal outpouring of support during her son Ezekiel Cameron's health battle. By sharing their grief, Lydia and her family tapped into a universal need for connection, discovering solace within a global prayer network and the compassionate care of Christian medical staff. Lydia's moving tribute to Ezekiel, through the hymn "It Is Well," exemplified the healing power of music and faith, offering a poignant message of finding peace amidst profound loss.Concluding our time together, Lydia's reflections on the legacy of her missionary parents, Garth and Lynette Piper, brought to light the urgency of living a life that contributes to the gospel's reach. She spoke of stewarding our time, talents, and even our pain, to support others navigating similar challenges. Her story, rich with hope and transformation, is an encouragement to listeners to embrace the transformative potential of faith, and to hold fast to the hope that can alter the course of lives.You ARE:SEEN KNOWN HEARD LOVED VALUED

Happy New Year Podcast Listening Family! Salt kicks off 2024 with a wonderful testimony! Hope you listen to this and every Salt Talks that goes live this year! Thank you! And Remember, not matter what! IT IS WELL!!!! Yes!

00:00:00 . . . . . . Welcome  00:00:25 . . . . . . Prayer  00:01:45 . . . . . . My Lord Will Carry Me  00:05:54 . . . . . . Singing Of Love Divine  00:10:30 . . . . . . I Want To Know More About My Lord  00:16:15 . . . . . . He Abides  00:21:22 . . . . . . I've Never Been Sorry  00:25:58 . . . . . . “Well Done, My Child"  00:31:06 . . . . . . I'm In A New World  00:34:55 . . . . . . Prayer  00:36:00 . . . . . . As Small As I Am  00:40:31 . . . . . . I Claim The Blood  00:44:30 . . . . . . Just Any Day Now  00:48:39 . . . . . . It Is Well  00:54:18 . . . . . . He Wrote My Name  00:58:41 . . . . . . Palms Of Victory  01:02:35 . . . . . . Amazing Grace  01:07:53 . . . . . . Pastor Tommy Boring  01:38:35 . . . . . . Nothing But The Blood  01:42:35 . . . . . . Closing  01:44:55 . . . . . . Dismissal Prayer

One night I awoke quite suddenly. What time was it, anyway? Three o'clock in the morning! What's more, I realized that in my mind I was singing an old hymn: "It Is Well with My Soul." Not the first or second verse but the third verse:               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![1]   [1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul/  

Everyone thinks they know the story of the 19th century hymn, "It Is Well" but it's much richer and deeper than most realize. And there's a bit of a Paul Harvey's "Rest of the Story" in the years after.  This is Anna's story.Ad Links:The 1513 Collection - A Faith-based Apparel CompanyEverything Nash - One-stop shop for all things Music City, USA

Where do you turn when all else falls away? Where are your eyes focused in both good times and bad? What is your faith grounded in? There are songs in the faith of profound encouragement, of knowing that God's character is so solid and unchangeable that even when we suffer great losses, we can feel […] The post It Is Well appeared first on Rockpointe Community Church.

Where do you turn when all else falls away? Where are your eyes focused in both good times and bad? What is your faith grounded in? There are songs in the faith of profound encouragement, of knowing that God's character is so solid and unchangeable that even when we suffer great losses, we can feel […] The post It Is Well appeared first on Rockpointe Community Church.

Waterbrook Elder Dave Burchett continues our series "The Psalms: Hearts Revealed Before God". This message in the series is titled "A Psalm of Trust and Hope" and covers Psalm 27. Originally preached at Waterbrook Bible Fellowship on Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Brother Long teaches from the story of the Shunammite woman. After her child passed, this woman was on a mission to find the man of God. Both her husband and Elisha’s servant asked if she is well. She said it is well, but the truth was all was not well. She needed to get to the man of God who could help her. Too often, we find ourselves in situations like this. Like this woman, we must respond to It Is Well while striving to get to the one who can make it well.

Brother Long teaches from the story of the Shunammite woman. After her child passed, this woman was on a mission to find the man of God. Both her husband and Elisha’s servant asked if she is well. She said it is well, but the truth was all was not well. She needed to get to the man of God who could help her. Too often, we find ourselves in situations like this. Like this woman, we must respond to It Is Well while striving to get to the one who can make it well.

It Is Well by Bethel Music. Cover by Fred and Kara with Draw Near. To celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, and the launch of our new ministry effort, "I See a Movement", we decided to make some cover songs available for everyone. For access to MORE covers, become a PATRON for as low as $5 a month. Patrons, you will have access to our music simply by being a patron. To become a Patron, go to: https://www.patreon.com/drawnear We enjoy doing music together and offering praise to the Lord. We pray it will be a blessing to you! To book us for your next event or worship, click booking information (https://www.drawnear.me/booking). Patrons, you will have access to our music simply by being a patron. Visit our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/drawnear) to begin your support. Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page. (https://www.drawnear.me/) Join the Draw Near Community Space on Suscipe.co (https://community.suscipe.co/share/M1CQceCQ6cMeBTIB?utm_source=manual) Click here (https://www.drawnear.me/donate) to become a supporter/patron! "Like" and follow us on Facebook! (https://www.facebook.com/fredandkara) You can even find us on Twitter. (https://twitter.com/fredandkara) Book Fred and/or Kara to speak or do music by visiting the Draw Near "booking page (https://www.drawnear.me/booking)." Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us! Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

Hope Inspired is our annual women's weekend, and this year's theme was "It Is Well." Three experts in their fields spoke on wellness of mind, body, and spirit, and in this live episode I sat down with all three of them to discuss anonymous questions submitted by women in attendance. Many thanks to Jeanette, Lorina, and Amy! You can buy Amy's book, listen to her podcast, and more at www.gracedhealth.com Be in touch!Email: uppcbiblejazz@gmail.comInstagram: @biblejazzSubscribe to Bible Jazz on Apple!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2Follow on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2YLbRFDsJbqGEAkMuJ1E5MListen on Stitcher:https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/university-place-presbyterian-church/bible-jazz?refid=stprGoogle Play:https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Izwv3a4pnmvqy54czy3tew5x5fyAnd at www.UPPC.orgMusic:Modern Jazz Samba by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4063-modern-jazz-sambaLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseHoney Bee by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100755&Search=SearchLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseAvant Jazz by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3395-avant-jazzLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Hope Inspired is our annual women's weekend, and this year's theme was "It Is Well." Three experts in their fields spoke on wellness of mind, body, and spirit, and in this live episode I sat down with all three of them to discuss anonymous questions submitted by women in attendance. Many thanks to Jeanette, Lorina, and Amy! You can buy Amy's book, listen to her podcast, and more at www.gracedhealth.com Be in touch!Email: uppcbiblejazz@gmail.comInstagram: @biblejazzSubscribe to Bible Jazz on Apple!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2Follow on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2YLbRFDsJbqGEAkMuJ1E5MListen on Stitcher:https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/university-place-presbyterian-church/bible-jazz?refid=stprGoogle Play:https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Izwv3a4pnmvqy54czy3tew5x5fyAnd at www.UPPC.orgMusic:Modern Jazz Samba by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4063-modern-jazz-sambaLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseHoney Bee by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100755&Search=SearchLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseAvant Jazz by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3395-avant-jazzLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The Shunammite woman was hospitable, there is no doubt about that! She saw a way that she could be a blessing to Prophet Elisha and she poured her time, energy, and resources into building a room, just for him! In return for her kindness, Prophet Elisha said that within a year, she would hold a baby boy. Sure enough... it came true. But just a few years later, her son is dead. Yet even in her distress, she is able to say, "It Is Well." What led her to be able to say those three words of faith? Join us today as we talk and discuss this incredible Bible story!Contributor: Karen Nicola shares with us a dark time in her life when her 3 year old son died of leukemia. She expected to see or feel God right there with her beside his hospital bed, but everything was silent. It wasn't until later, that she was able to look back and see how God had led. She is now a grief coach, has written a book, "Comfort for the Day - Living Through the Seasons of Grief", and has a website. To learn more - visit it at: www.comfortfortheday.com Year B Quarter 1 Week 10Memory Verse: 1 John 3:18Further Study: 2 Kings 4; Prophets and Kings, 237-243; The Bible Story, vol. 5, pp. 66-78; 98-100Write to us: renew@startingwithjesus.com Find the Lessons Here: https://startingwithjesus.com/renew/Connect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Devotional Author: Merle PoirierDevotionalReader: Katie ChitwoodWeekly Contributor: Karen NicolaAudio Editor: Celeste Rogers

We have talked about our spiritual lives and our emotional health and maturity in this series: It Is Well. Although these topics can center around feelings, the Christian life is not primarily about how we feel. Rather the Christian life is a life we PRACTICE. This week we are talking about practicing the way of Jesus. Christians have been putting into practice specific spiritual disciplines for centuries. These disciplines or practices are means through which the Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ.

Week 3 of our “It Is Well” series.

Week 2 of our "It Is Well" series.

Week 1 of our "It Is Well" series.

You are not in control. You never have been. You never will be.That fact of life is tough for many of us to swallow. “The cultural air I breathe has trained me to think that life should be more carefree, predictable, and in control than it is,” Scott Sauls writes in his new book, Beautiful People Don't Just Happen: How God Redeems Regret, Hurt, and Fear in the Making of Better Humans, (Zondervan). Scott Sauls is senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and author of six books. Scott writes with a kind of vulnerability that is not common for many authors, let alone pastors. He tells us that we can find him in the church basement with the marginal characters Jesus seemed to attract. “He wounds us sometimes,” Scott admits, “but always and only to heal us.” Just look around the room sometime when your church sings “It Is Well.” You'll notice it's those who suffered most who sing the loudest. They have forsaken their need to control for the peace of faith. Scott Sauls joins Collin Hansen on Gospelbound to share what church members would be surprised to learn about their pastors, why deep faith feels like defeat, and how affliction can preach better than a sermon.

In her own way, Joni Eareckson Tada has faced unimaginable suffering as well. And similarly, her faith and perseverance in the midst of trials has been an inspiration and encouragement to Christians all around the world. In her new book, Songs of Suffering, Joni reflects on 25 hymns that have been a ballast to her throughout her life, guiding listeners through their own painful seasons with heartfelt praises to God. Today we're pleased to share Joni's introduction to the book and her reflections on the wonderful hymn, It Is Well with My Soul.