“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:18

How do YOU deal with PAIN? Joseph Scriven was born September 10, 1819, in Ireland. He was enrolled in Trinity College in Dublin and was graduating. As he was in school, he fell in love with a young lady, and they were excited to start their life together. But on the day before their wedding, she was thrown from a horse while crossing a bridge, and she drowned in front of him.

The sorrow he felt was great, and it caused him to wander from town to town. By age 25 his travels had taken him to an area near Port Hope, Canada. He became highly regarded by the people of that area. He tutored some of the local children in their schoolwork. It was there he met a wonderful young lady, Elisa Roche, and again fell in love. They had exciting plans to be married. However, tragedy reared its ugly head once again and she died of pneumonia before they could wed.

Joseph spent the rest of his life in Port Hope, Canada and was often known to serve people that had no money. In his times of grief, he started writing in a journal. He wrote the words to what we know as this beloved hymn, in hopes that it would bring some comfort to his mother. He even wrote in his journal that these words were “twixt the Lord and I-we did it together.” An attorney named Charles Converse, later added the melody…a simple song that still touches lives today.

How could he do that? How could he write that third line? “Oh what PEACE we often forfeit…” In the face of his pain, he found his peace not in a bottle or in this world, but in a TRUST with a God that sees all of our pain! He DIDN’T let the pain of his situation take away the PEACE of his broken heart!

What are you facing? Are you dealing with TRIALS…or TEMPTATIONS…is there “trouble anywhere” in your life? Maybe God is whispering to you right now… “Take it to ME in prayer!” Let GOD carry the burden that you are carrying…just as Scrivner let God carry his incredible grief.

Perhaps, one of the greatest acts of WORSHIP, is obedience in the MIDST of your pain. May you celebrate HIM instead of focusing on your hurts.

May the God that carries the universe on His shoulder, carry the struggle you are dealing with today!

Shalom Alachiem…Don