Thursday Hymn Reflection: “Be Still, My Soul”

[Each Thursday, we “reflect” on a hymn suggested by our readers. If you would like us to write about your favorite hymns, just leave a comment with up to three of your favorites, and we’ll write about them.]

Okay, so today’s hymn was not suggested by a reader. Instead, it is one of my favorites, and I was reminded of it again this week. Leah and I (finally) went on our anniversary date, and we went to hear the Nashville Symphony play in Centennial Park. One of their selections for the night was a piece from Finlandia by Jean Sibelius. If you look in your hymnal under the song “Be Still, My Soul,” you will notice that Sibelius is credited with the music. This tune comes in the final part of this great piece, and has gone on to have words added to it in many forms.

If you’ve never heard Finlandia, enjoy this video, and listen for the tune (hint: it starts at 5:26).

The tune to “Be Still, My Soul” is gorgeous, and is really like no other song found in our hymnals. (How many songs in our hymnals served as the tune for the national anthem of a short-lived African nation? This one did. Biafra used it during its 3-year existence from 1967-1970.) But the words to this hymn are what give it great power, and what make it so memorable to me.

We live in a world of worry, and we live lives that are filled with anxious moments. Just the title to this song should be enough to show the emphasis. We need to do as the psalmist taught: “Be still and know that [He] is God” (Psalm 46:10). The words to “Be Still, My Soul,” written by Katharina von Schlegel, are words filled with trusting patience, not because everything is okay in this life, but because of who God is.

My favorite part of this song is that has a ring to it of what was often done in the Old Testament. Often the children of Israel were told to recount what God had done for them over their history and let that be a comfort to them as they faced moments of difficulty and doubt. You and I, when we are honest, can look back over our lives and see what God has done for us. That knowledge of Him and His constant care should cause us peace in a world filled with anxious moments.

After recounting the past, “Be Still, My Soul” then takes us to the future. The song walks us through to heaven and reminds us that remaining faithful will be worth it on that great day! We will meet our Lord, as the song says, “at last.” Isn’t that reason enough to be faithful and to persevere?

If there is one hymn that I quote in sermons more often than any other, it has to be this one. When you read the words, you’ll see why. Here are the words to one of my all-time favorite hymns:

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide,

In ev’ry change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul; The hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord;

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone;

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last.

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Whether or not you are familiar with this great hymn of trust, I hope you’ll enjoy this video of it.