Be still my soul
I had another conversation this week with The Adapter about how intensely our feelings can wash over us. Me and her. Like two peas in a pod, really.
In The Rest of the Gospel by Dan Stone and Greg Smith/David Gregory1, he talks about the soul being like a swing. It can sometimes swing wildly, and because this is the way God made us, we choose by faith to listen to our spirit, and be led by truth, not feelings. This is a simple and adequate picture. I have shared this with The Adapter, and she talks about it often.
Like me, she really enjoys music, and so I heard this one on repeat for several days. She would retreat to her room, and close her door and blast it! I asked her about it, and she said this song talks to her soul and gets it quiet enough so that she can then listen to her spirit. Then she let me listen to other songs on the album and said, “A lot of the words are from the Bible and that makes my spirit stronger.”
Yes. Yes it does. I am so thankful she is talking to her soul, and listening to her spirit. She already has a level of understanding I didn’t have when I was her age. Sometimes our understanding is enhanced by having the right language to use. And the more I am in the Word, the more I see precedent for addressing my soul. It has helped me to know my soul is separate from my spirit, and that my soul is “functioning” correctly even while it seems wild and out of control.
I’ll leave you with some of my favorite Psalms2. These bring great comfort to me when my soul swings in the midst of circumstances, and remind me of the great cloud of witnesses who have already walked by faith into the greatest reward of eternity. May your soul be quieted and your spirit strengthened.
- The original copy of the book I purchased has Greg Smith as the coauthor. The newer publications show the coauthor as David Gregory. It looks like he changed his pen name. David Gregory Smith is his full name. ↩︎
- Psalms 23, 35, 42, 57, 62, 63, 103, 104, 107, 116 and 131 are the ones I chose for this link. Psalm 23 has been arranged as a song on this album, and The Adapter often has it on repeat, too. ↩︎
What a wonderful message!
It talks to me strongly and deeply. Thank you so much!❤️
You are welcome!