Lyrics
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.
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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Meaning & Inspiration
“Be Still, My Soul” gives language to quiet trust amid pain, change, and unanswered questions. Each verse addresses the soul directly, calling it to patience because God remains faithful. The image of thorny ways leading to a joyful end acknowledges suffering while refusing to treat it as the final word. That patience depends on God’s providence, not on a promise of immediate relief.
The hymn’s second vovement looks back at God’s past guidance as grounds for hope about the future. Its reference to wind and waves obeying Christ clearly echoes the Gospel accounts of Jesus calming a storm. The final verse turns toward eternal hope, where grief, fear, and tears no longer define existence. Together, these images make the hymn both a prayer for steadiness and a confession of confidence in God’s faithfulness.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 46:10 The psalm calls God’s people to be still and recognize His sovereignty.
- Mark 4:39 Jesus rebukes the wind and calms the sea with His voice.
- Revelation 21:4 The passage describes a future where death, sorrow, crying, and pain are gone.