This song has been a recurring song of together-talk for myself and my soul.
It was sung over and over in the hospital, as shown in my post on our anniversary, November 23, 2015 at 5:52 a.m. I had spent the night between my birthday and our anniversary praying over and singing to Mike as he was in and out of his reactive states. We were in the quarantined room.
All my post said was:
The song through the night. [And under those words, I typed out the song’s full lyrics.]
I referenced this song again on December 30th, as those turbulent soul-waters were strong, and I needed to find my calm. So, I posted this as we were ending our family Christmas road-trip to Texas, Arkansas, and Ohio, and heading home to begin walking through the letting-go’s that were awaiting us upon our North Carolina return:
Last post before bed, and before hitting the road tomorrow:
Psalms are comforting.
David, in his honest struggles, clung to the Almighty God, and in doing so, his soul was calmed and he found strength and peace in spite of his conflict or troubles.
The names “David” and “Ami” both mean “Beloved/Friend.”
I relate to David; I will write; I will sing… and I will heal.
Perhaps it will soothe some “Sauls” out there along the way.
One song that I plan to record in the Passages collection:
“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
I hadn’t planned yet to leave the ministry property. Writer House was not yet in the picture. I didn’t have any clue what I would be walking into. But wrapping my heart around the praises of God [as David had done and recorded to give us some hope in doing just that] was all I KNEW to do. Everything else was in question; but THIS I KNEW. And keeping in daily reliance and honesty with my All-Mighty God was the very best not-knowing-what-to-do thing to do!
I pretty much sang this for three days straight, and then even posted this to share with others in the hopes that it would help them as much as it had been helping me:
I am teaching my children to speak Life and Surrender to their souls. And to invite [sometimes beg] the Steadiness of Christ to raise His Hands at the Helm of the Heart, and say, “Peace! Be Still!”
I know that the winds and the waves still obey His Voice.
This song is releasing to you on the first anniversary of the start of what I did not realize would become my last 24-hours with Michael.
I raise these words of Surrender above my life today, just as I did then.
And the Beauty is found in this:
God never tires of meeting my surrender…
With Peace.
Be still.
And if you know nothing else…
Know.
He is.
He is Almighty — all mighty.
And He will steady YOU in all of it.
Even if my circumstances are unchanged, I am changed.
The winds and waves are stilled.
Whether He carries me or gives me the Power to walk on water, it matters not.
He is with me, and I don’t drown!
I love that God introduced Himself to Moses in the Present tense as “I AM that I AM.”
When I am not able to face the storm, He says, “It’s okay Ami. I AM.”
He is also the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last — Beginning and End.
I can speak the Truth to my soul that He is [and has been and will be].
And that has proven to be more than enough.
I hope that you and your soul can have some conversations together today, and that your calm will rise.
Peace.
Full Song Lyrics
Be Still My Soul
by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897
(added lyrics by Ami Shroyer)
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 every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Do you know, my soul?
Do you know His Joy?
Do you know?
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.
Do you know, my soul?
Do you know His Voice?
Do you know?
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.
Do you know, my soul?
Do you know His rest?
Do you know?
Be still, my soul
The Lord is on
Thy side
* omitted lyrics that read well, and pray well in times like these [use them in your own quiet soul time]:
Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Simply. Beautiful. Reawakening of a song that will resonate with so many. (Including myself).
Ami. Beloved. Friend. Well Done.
i remember on one of the first days of songs released, you wrote about the need to often talk to your soul. these. are the perfect words of comfort…that He is close and FOR YOU.
soooooo beautifully sung, ami. fitting and perfect for eleven and for december 1. <3 much much love and continuous prayer for you and jm and sadie…<3
I have looked forward each day to listening to your next song! Have saved them all and go back and listen again and again. I’m going to miss having my coffee each morning listening to these beautiful voices and reading your messages.
Thank you Ami, J Michael, Sadie and of course Mike for being who you are and sharing that with all of us.
??BEAUTIFUL PEACEFUL LOVELY REASSURING
So glad you did include this ones!! GOD bless you!!
Love you my Friend!!
Beautiful finale, my friend! I’m going to miss waking up to your posts and music. I’ll play the music over and over but hope the posts become a regular thing! Thank you. Keep talking to your soul (and sharing when you can because it speaks to all of our souls!) Love you.
Precious reminder to submit. Thank you.
Beautiful Ami! I love this… My song for life’s journey on especially hard days is “Be Thou my vision” and I always think this song is it’s partner. I love the way you tell the story of your name. Recently when I was choosing a name for my new business, my mom was persistent that I include mine, because she told me that my grandfather regretted not including his name in his business. I found myself looking at my name’s meaning, which is interesting, depending on the translation, you get things like House of Figs, House of Poverty, or my most favorite… House of God. As I looked, I found a whole sermon that someone had written about choosing the name Bethany, that a priest had shared the concept that Bethany is the location for the start of Christian hospitality that Mary and Martha’s home in Bethany was the place that Jesus met his friends and it was his place of retreat. And that a “Bethany House” is a house of blessings that welcomes others to embrace Jesus as friend. Which struck a mighty cord to me, because as my mom had encouraged me to choose my name (the name she picked because she liked it) I had begun to play with words trying out descriptions of items like treasures, trinkets, lace, and had begun to settle into Blessings because it just felt right when partnered with Bethany. God knows who we are before our parents know the twinkle in their eyes has a special identity. So Beloved friend, I am so glad that God knew we needed to be friends! Sending love to your family, and prayers that in this day that you will be comforted in amazing ways.
Thank you for sharing your Houseful of Blessing with me today!
I needed this right now, and it has nothing to do with anything on your blog. Thank you. You are in my prayers today.
This song is special to me as well. I loved hearing your moving rendition of it. Thank you.
At Scott’s funeral on October 28th, six couples sang Be Still My Soul at my request and I thought it was beautiful amidst the sorrow. It is the fervent prayer of my heart, that my soul will be still, my confidence will be unshaken, that I will be able to find comfort in the Lord.