Through the wanderings of my days I find a restlessness about me and oft times within me. The turmoil of spirits in this world reverberates around me and sometimes through me.
My soul is in search of rest; and I am aware of a desperate longing and frantic searching for that rest. Offers abound within a single thought’s grasp, within the glance of an eye, or perchance a seemingly harmless diversion, but none, yea none, can soothe the anxious wrestlings of my eternal soul. Praise the Lord it has known rest. It has been enveloped in its comforting assurance. And though it is foolishly drawn away, it yearns for a return.
“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.” But, oh, what comfort to know that He awaits my return; always awaits my return with anticipation and great joy, just as the father of the wayward son stood looking afar off and rejoiced with great rejoicing when the gulf of sin that was between them was bridged once again.
“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.” (Psalm 116:7) Remember, O my soul, the goodness of God. With tones of infinite gentleness and manifold mercy, my God offers unto me forgiveness and restoration; a seat at His banqueting table in time and in eternity; His loving and uninterrupted attention as I cry out unto Him; any time and as much time as I need to sit and talk with Him. He has written His life-giving words to me and had them bound in a book that I may own, read, memorize and love forever and ever and ever.
“Peace, peace, wonderful peace; coming down from the Father above.” Such peace and rest is found in the sweet communion of my Father’s presence and in His glorious smile! Wondrous it is to me that I should ever turn from His dear face and spurn His marvelous grace. But, alas, as the pressure of living amongst the dead presses heavily upon my spirit, I cry out in search of escape. I look to illusions rather than to the Illuminator. I seek temporary, physical relief for an eternal, spiritual ache; a band aide for a fatal wound; a drop of bitter water from a stagnant pool as my back is turned on a refreshing, flowing stream nearby.
Is it well with your soul? There are three parts to our humanness: physical, mental and spiritual. All parts must be cared for and attended to daily. However, this third part, the spiritual, has a disproportionate influence over the other two. The forward marching Christian has seen proof of this truth. When we are connected and walking intimately with our God, our spiritual side is in tune and the other parts fall harmoniously in line with one another and benefit from the efforts expended in the spiritual realm.
How is the health of your soul? What is its diet? What kind of exercise is it receiving?
George Mueller once said that the most important thing he did was to feed his soul. What is it that your soul feasts upon? The Living Bread has been laid before you. Why seek ye fulfillment at the trough of the world’s wisdom or seek an escape through its deceitful diversions? “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.” (Proverbs 15:14)
How are you providing for the exercise of your soul? Our Pastor recently said, “For the Christian, life is a constant exercise of faith.” Our souls are exercised and thereby strengthened by our faith being tested, tried and stretched. Staying in the Bible and stepping out in faith are spiritual exercises that bring guaranteed results; the kind that are seen by others and that inspire others to seek out and stick to the same routine.
The answer to the question, “Is it well with your soul?” can be answered with a resounding yet humble response of, “Yes, yes, praise God, yes!” if your daily choices are ones that seek to strengthen your soul by building upon “your most holy faith.” (Jude 20) It is His wonderful mercy that allows us such a blessed walk with Him in this oft confusing, sometimes bewildering, and always trying life.
Though we may sometimes feel the heaviness of spirit that is a normal part of the Christian’s life, our desire should not be to seek a way to escape it, but rather to draw closer to God by faith and seek His perspective on our circumstances. Strengthening our souls will help us to bear the burden of the world’s spirits and influence. The oppression can be countered by the soul’s resistance whose strength comes from God Himself.
Wandering Soul, return unto thy rest and praise God for how mercifully He has dealt with you.
“Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.
“O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.”
As seasons of life change, Elizabeth happily remains desperately dependent upon her God. Three of her four children have now branched off to begin their own families. She is a homeschooling veteran and a faithful wife for over 30 years.
Read Elizabeth’s salvation testimony here and her articles here.