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| Bookmark I made years ago. I still love the message. |
The hymn "Nearer My God To Thee" was humming itself in my head this morning when I woke up - so I looked up all the words. It really hit me how remarkable it was that a woman from the early 1800's, who only lived to be 43 understood the essence of life and God's perfect system here.
All experiences good and bad have the capacity to elevate us. They're all designed to strengthen, teach, refine, fortify, challenge, bless, and grow us.
Sometimes they don't feel that way while we're in the thick of the worst ones - but if we make the effort to hold to the rod, hold to our faith and brace ourselves - we come out the other end in a higher, more enlightened place. In addition, we weather storms with more soul capacity as life goes on.
Having passed through the difficult we become someone more than who we would have been. Our eternal statures grow upward.
It's one of life's great secrets that sore trials are great equalizers and elevators of us all - and in the end, they won't be nearly as significant as the benefit we get from them.
It's one of life's great secrets that sore trials are great equalizers and elevators of us all - and in the end, they won't be nearly as significant as the benefit we get from them.
I used to think the lyrics of this song expressed a plaintive, humble, resigned, "oh well" kind of sentiment.
This morning, my eyes were opened to the great wisdom of this author keenly understanding what sore trials do for us, and how in the end they are soul enhancers.
1. Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me.
Still all my song shall be
(Chorus)
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!
2. Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be
3. There let the way appear,
Steps unto heav'n;
All that thou sendest me,
In mercy giv'n;
Angels to beckon me
4. Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be
5. Or if, on joyful wing
Cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be
(Chorus)
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearer to thee!
Here is the link to the instrumental music - Nearer My God To Thee (You may want to speed up the tempo on the little hymn toolbar - mine played too slow at first.)
I sang it to myself - such a sweet experience!
Happy Monday!