“Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”
(Psalm 62:8)

I am feeling a little under the weather today (for the curious, here’s a link to about the origin of that phrase).  Not only have the allergens of NW Iowa finally caught up to me, making my head feel like a bowling ball spinning down the lane, but my stomach is rebelling today too.  I am in mourning, for it has been made perfectly clear that I can no longer eat Pizza without paying an extreme price.  All of that being said, writing an article to encourage and cheer my fellow disciples of Christ seems near impossible.

I thought what I’d do instead, is share what I turn to in times like these.  I’ve never read Chicken Soup for the Soul, not that I have anything against that kind of devotional material – I’ve just never needed it.  No.  It’s not that I’ve never needed the soothing, healing words of encouragement.  I just get it from another source.  For example, today the Soul Salving Soup is found in the old hymns of the church.

Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies
To Thee I tell each rising grief,
For Thou alone canst heal
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief,
For every pain I feel

But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call Thee mine
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust
And still my soul would cleave to Thee
Though prostrate in the dust

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sovereign grace,
Be deaf when I complain?
No still the ear of sovereign grace,
Attends the mourner’s prayer
Oh may I ever find access,
To breathe my sorrows there

Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet,
Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet.

© Words: Anne Steele; Public Domain

What a great reminder.  When the sorrows rise, when the troubles roll, when doubts prevail and the worldly comforts fail, we can cast our hope, place our trust, cleave our soul upon the only refuge of our weary souls.  His Word brings sweet relief from every pain, the ear of sovereign grace attends the mourner’s prayer, His mercy seat is open still.

I hope you are well today.  But well or weary, may you cast your soul upon the one true source of hope, the everlasting fountain of joy, the eternal arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

SDG

P.S. – Here’s a link to the YouTube video of the Hymn