Have you ever been in a situation where you heard a song and it just resonated with your soul? For me, I can pinpoint where I was when I heard the song and the moments are so vivid. A few examples are; “On A Prayer” by Garth Brooks immediately following my Step-dad’s passing, “It Won’t Be Like This for Long” by Darius Rucker when I think about my kids. Countless songs that capture snapshots of my relationship with my wife. Most times this resonance happens the first time I hear the song, but sometimes the song finds me when I need it most.
The song “Even If” by Mercy Me has been out since 2017. I enjoyed the song, and sang it unconsciously until one day, God helped me hear what I was saying. “God when you choose to leave mountains unmovable, Oh give me the strength to be able to sing it is well with my soul, I know the sorrow and I know the hurt would all go away if You just say the word, but even if you don’t, my hope is You alone.”
As a husband, I would do anything to shield my wife from pain. After an eight-year battle with Chronic Leukocytic Leukemia, my wife was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and although they successfully removed her thyroid, and followed up with radiation, her tumor markers are going the wrong way. In April, I lost my job as the international tourism industry was devastated by the global pandemic. My daughter had to come home from college, my youngest daughters senior year was ruined and to top it all off, my dog ran away. My life was quickly becoming a country song.
Jesus says in John 16:33, ” I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Whenever I find myself seeing my glass as half empty, I try to remember that I’m guaranteed trouble, but I’m also promised peace in Christ; and that as sons and daughters of the King, I’m drinking from a goblet.
I was driving down Edison towards Central, wearing a Black Cork T-Shirt. It was as if God put everything on pause to say Even If all of this is happening, do you trust me? My Hope is in Jesus Christ and I can honestly say that despite the storms, it is well with my soul.