The Waves and Wind Still Know His Name...

When I first heard Bethel's "It Is Well" I was immediately drawn to it. Not because of any particular circumstance in my life or because of the beauty of the music. It was the line, "...the waves and wind still know His name."

My mind was immediately taken back to 2009 when we were preparing for the birth of our second child. We had found out we were having a boy and were trying to decide on a name. Neither Kevin or I were good decision makers and your child's name is a BIG decision! We went back and forth and didn't really find anything we liked. I really wanted something with a good meaning or family history to it. Sophie's name means wisdom (which I wanted because it's something I felt like I don't have and I wanted to be able to pray that she would grow into her name.) I decided I wanted to find a boy's name that also meant wisdom. Y'all. Not possible. There is not a male name that means wisdom. At least not one that I was willing to name my child. So I kept looking.

Then I learned that there was one man, second only to King Solomon, in the Bible who was considered wise. Ethan the Ezrahite. I thought, "I could do Ethan. It doesn't mean wisdom, but it at least has a connection to wisdom. I like that name." Then I found out that Ethan the Ezrahite wrote Psalm 89. What a beautiful Psalm. It is honest and heartfelt. Ethan spells out the many ways God has blessed, loved, and protected His people Israel. He begs God to remember the covenant He made with David, to protect His lineage, as times for God's people were hard. Psalm 89:9 jumped right out at me and it's been a favorite of mine ever since. It says, "You rule the raging of the sea; when it's waves rise, You still them."

Can I get an AMEN!?!?! That verse. If I can remember that verse, I can cling to God through anything. The waves and wind of any storm still know His name. His voice still calms the storm. That is why I can say, "It is well." That is why I can lay my life, my children's lives, at His feet and let go of my white knuckle grip on this temporary life here on earth. No storm comes that He didn't see, prepare, or that He can't calm. Amen!

As soon as the reality hit that I was indeed going to have to plan a funeral for my beloved, I didn't even hesitate when it came to choosing that song for the occasion. This is the biggest, scariest, hardest storm I've ever been in. But His Truth still stands: He rules the raging of the sea; when it's waves rise, He stills them. So, each morning I choose to let go, hand this weary life over to the one whose voice commands every wind and every wave, and walk ahead being able to truly say, "It is well, it is well, with my soul."

We'll be singing this in church soon. The best church family I have ever known will be standing beside me, holding my hand, and raising their voices with me to declare the truth that God is sovereign, He's in control, and he allows us to know that all is well when life looks anything but. Amen! Thank You, Father! You are perfect in all Your ways to me. "You rule the raging of sea; when it's waves rise, You still them."