Cheer amid Change

“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge” (Proverbs 14:26). “There arose a great dissension… And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:10,11). 

In times of change and great dissension

We need to hear our Savior’s voice,
For as we give Him our attention,
We worship Him and thus rejoice. 

Behold the great apostle Paul

Who never seemed to flinch or waver.
Yet he confirmed that, like us all,
His strength was found in Christ his Savior. 

Apart from Christ, no voice can cheer

Or calm the tempest in our heart
With perfect love that casts out fear
And peace He only can impart. 

The circumstances in Paul’s case

Were surely ordered by the Lord
Through the sufficiency of grace
Which God alone could well afford.

Though kings and governors arrange

Agendas charted by their plan,
The Lord is still in charge of change;
Put not your trust in mortal man!  

How little did those rulers know

That Paul was on his way to Rome
Where God declared that he would go
Before the Lord would take him home. 

He spoke first in Jerusalem;

Men didn’t cause that circumstance. 
It never had occurred to them
That God was overruling “chance.”

And thus we too have understood

That God still orders everything,
Ordaining what He deems is good
For those who love Him as their King.

We’re thankful, Lord, that You’re in charge

In troubling times or times of peace.
Though waves around our boat seem large,
You speak a word, and they must cease. 

O Lord, until we’re called above

Your voice of cheer will be our guide.
In every change we know Your love
Shall be our shelter where we hide.