It Is Well With My Soul

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

It Is Well With My Soul 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

On Saturday morning, March 6, 2021, we received a telephone call from a Christian woman who has been going through a difficult time with her Christian husband. My wife and I gave her the best counsel and wisdom of the Lord that we are capable of. However, the Lord's wisdom is always perfect. Nevertheless, we know that some of you are going through difficult times in your life. In this message we want to share with you the essence of the counsel that the Lord gave us for that precious woman. Hopefully, this will be of some value to all those Christians who are experiencing difficult circumstances.

2 Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 

Acts 14:21-22, "And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

Every Christian who reads the Bible is aware of those verses, but somehow there is a disconnect when we actually experience that persecution and tribulation.

From Matthew 16:24, "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." 

What does it mean to "take up my cross?" There is a worldly saying that if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. It means to trust in the Lord no matter what our circumstances may be.

Note that Jesus said that to His disciples, which conveys the thought of someone who is more than simply born again. The standard definition of "disciple" is someone who adheres to the teachings of another.

Hebrews, Chapter 11, is known as the big "faith" chapter in the Bible. Verse 6 of Chapter 11 says, 

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

That verse says that I must believe that God is. It says nothing about what He has done or will do for you or me. Note that the second "that" in that verse is in italics, which means it is not in the Greek manuscript. The translators inserted the word because they thought it was necessary. That was/is a mistake. In other words, we do NOT have to believe that God is a rewarder of them that seek Him. It is true that God IS a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, but I do not have to believe that. We must diligently seek Him whether or not we ever receive a reward. Of course, if the reason we diligently seek Him is simply to receive a reward, then we may never receive anything, because our focus and motivation is wrong.

There are two sets of saints recorded in Hebrews 11. Verses 7 through 34 speak of those believers who did exploits and/or received what many call positive blessings on earth. I will call them Group A. Verses 35 through 38 speak of those saints who suffered greatly while on earth. I will call them Group B.

Hebrews 11:35-38, "Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."

Hebrews 11:39-40, "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."

Note, from Verse 39, that all those in BOTH groups obtained a good report through faith. Why? because they both gladly drank of the cup which the Father gave them. We may never know why the Lord chooses some saints to be in Group A and other saints to be in Group B. But that should never be our concern. What matters is whether or not we trust in the Lord in all things. What matters is whether or not we gladly partake of the cup which the Father gives to us.

Mark 14:35-36, "And He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."

Jesus said, in John 18:11, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" 

Obviously, Jesus did not refer to a natural cup. Neither did Jesus refer to the contents of a natural cup, such as wine.

Psalm 116:12-15, "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

Habakkuk 3:16-19

16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when He cometh up unto the people, He will invade them with His troops.

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Verses 17-19 are "favorites" of many believers. However, we cannot just experience and bask in the nice, pleasant-sounding scriptures unless we go through Verse 16 first, so that we might rest in the day of trouble.

In other words, Verse 16a reflects the repentance of Habakkuk, very much like the repentance of Isaiah in Isaiah, Chapter 6. It also reflects the scriptural fear of God that engulfed him and must engulf us. The "day of trouble" is surely coming upon the people of God and already has begun. "His troops" are the same as what some believers call "Joel's army" in Joel, Chapter 2, which constitutes the judgment of God to get His people to "do" what we have failed to "do," which is to 

"turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God" (Joel 2:12-13a). 

It will be a time when the chosen people of God will finally cry out to God for help and mercy, 

"For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness" (Joel 2:13b).

1 Peter 4:12-13, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 

Romans 9:13-21,

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will?

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Perhaps you have heard the saying, "He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good." In reality, I believe it is the exact opposite. If we are NOT heavenly minded, we will be no earthly good. Of course, that does NOT mean that we all should become hermits or monks. From my experience and awareness, far too many Christians are still too earthly-minded. Bur our home is in heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:1-2, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:" 

Psalm 90:10, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

That verse indicates that we may have 70 years on earth in this earthly tabernacle. Of course, some saints have shorter lives on earth and others have much longer. I have personally known at least four saints who have lived on earth more than 100 years. But all of us should be preparing ourselves to live with God for an eternity. There is no comparison between 70-100 years and eternity.

Luke 6:22-23, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."

Two times after the Lord apprehended me, I have seen a lot of hate in the demeanor of other people. In one instance I went to an auto parts store to buy a small part for our car. When I went to the cashier to pay for the part, the hate in the clerk's eyes was overbearing. All I said, in a normal voice, was that I needed to pay for the part. I never understood why there was so much hate in that woman's eyes, but I said nothing.

One scriptural example of when men shall separate you from their company is in John, Chapter 9, when Jesus opened the eyes of the man who was born blind. The Pharisees kept asking the man about Jesus and how Jesus opened his eyes. Finally, in John 9:25, concerning Jesus, 

"He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." 

The man with an experience is never at a disadvantage with the man who has a doctrine. Then, in 

John 9:34, "They [the Pharisees] answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out." 

What a blessing that was for the former blind man. He had his natural sight restored, he was saved by the power of God, and he was set free from man's religion.

Psalm 55:12-14,

"For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company." 

Matthew 5:11-12, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." 

In 1981, the New Testament house church of which we were a part for about twelve years, disintegrated. In July of 2011, we hosted the 30th reunion of many of the folks who had attended that house church. All of the meetings were in our home except for a Saturday afternoon picnic in a nearby park. A number of believers came from many miles away. One couple flew in from Miami, Florida, and stayed with us in our home the entire weekend. On the first evening, about 70 folks were in our home for a "meet and greet." I had wanted to share many things, but the Lord said, "No." So I never planned to say anything for the Saturday or Sunday gatherings.

At our Saturday afternoon picnic, one young woman, named Ruth Ann, asked me if there would be any time that weekend for those who wanted to share a testimony. I told her that I had not planned anything specific, but I was sure that we could make time for testimonies.

That Saturday evening we had a duplication of our typical meetings back in the 1970's ... an opening prayer, sing three fast songs, then a few slow songs, sing in the Spirit, wait for the prophecies, someone shared a word, and then "fellowship," which was always more like socialization. I am sure that the great majority of the 55 folks present thought it was a wonderful meeting. My wife and I and perhaps two or three others groaned in our spirits at the fixed routine which had very little life, but I said nothing.

On Sunday morning we had another gathering in our home. About 20 or 25 of the people either left to go home or went to their local denominational churches. Again, I had not planned any type of agenda or format. One young man brought his guitar and played one song, which we all sang. Then he put his guitar down. I believe he sensed we were not to sing any more. At that point I asked Ruth Ann if she would come forward and share her testimony. She was a very shy woman, then married with two children. She was very reluctant to stand up and share. Finally, her husband said that he would stand up with her, so she agreed. Ruth Ann proceeded to tell us about all of the emotional, mental, and physical abuse that both she and her mother received from her father when she was a little girl. Then she shared with us how the Lord had set her free from all ill feelings toward her father. What a work of grace! Ruth Ann started weeping and I started weeping. I am not sure there was a dry eye in the room. It was like a spirit of weeping just filled our house. I do not recall what else came forth from the saints after that, but I am sure it was quite anti-climactic. I am positive that the Lord touched many of the believers present through her testimony. When that meeting was over the wife of the couple who had come from Miami, Florida, said to me privately, and I quote, "Last night was like the old but this morning was like the new." I quickly agreed with her. Saturday night was a traditional routine and one of many reasons why the Lord wrote Ichabod upon our New Testament house church. Sunday morning was spontaneous, led by the Spirit, and a breath of fresh air. Those 20-25 believers who left before our Sunday service will never know what they missed. I could never explain to anyone the difference between the two meetings. That is just something that you have to experience for yourself. Also, when the meeting was over that Sunday morning, a brother who had introduced some bad doctrine into our house church came over to me, with tears in his eyes. He stuffed something in my shirt pocket. After he left, I looked into my pocket. He had given me $200. Of course, as usual, we had never taken up any offering. So many lives, touched by the love and grace of God.

Acts 5:41, "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

It is a great honor to suffer for righteousness' sake. That means that we are a chosen vessel of mercy and a special target of the enemy, who wants to thwart the chosen vessels of the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-6, "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;" 

The Lord is our defense. We should never try to defend ourselves. Judgment is mine, sayeth the Lord. If we suffer wrongfully at the hands of men, whether they be heathens or Christians, the Lord will fight our battle. In the specific case of the abusive father of Ruth Ann and her mother, the Lord took that man home when he was 51 years of age.

I believe that I shared once before an experience of a true prophet of God. He said that he was preaching one time (I do not remember the exact location) and a big, burly man shook his fist at the prophet because he did not like what the prophet was saying. One year later, the prophet went back to the same church. The same man who had shook his fist at the prophet had a big bandage all around that same hand because his hand was eaten up with cancer. We need to be very careful how we speak wrongfully to God's anointed ones.

Psalm 23:1-4, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." 

My natural father was blessed with a good tenor singing voice, although he never had any training in that area. He probably sang at more weddings and funerals than any other person in our hometown. He was also the choir director at a few different Methodist churches and sang many solos.

Throughout life, we may feel discouraged and down. But always remember that He is by our side and watches over us through it all. Just like the lyrics of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow," remember that He is with us in all that we do. Do not be troubled because we have the King of kings on our side! That is a song I remember my father singing. The words are:

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, 

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home, 

When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear, 

And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, 

I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

On Sunday night, March 7, I listened to a song I had never heard before. The title of the song is "Sometimes It Takes a Mountain." To listen to that song by some outstanding singers, go to YouTube.com. Then search on "Sometimes it takes a mountain" by the Gaither band. The words of that song are:

I faced a mountain that I've never faced before. 

That's why I'm calling on you, Lord.

I know it's been a while, Lord please hear my prayer, 

I need You like I never have before.

Sometimes it takes a mountain, sometimes a troubled sea, 

sometimes it takes a desert, To get a hold of me.

Your love is so much stronger than whatever troubles me.

Sometimes it takes a mountain to trust You and believe.

Forgive me Jesus, I thought I could control 

whatever life would throw my way.

But this I will admit has brought me to my knees. 

I need You, Lord, and I'm not ashamed to say, 

 

sometimes it takes a mountain, sometimes a troubled sea, 

sometimes it takes a desert to get a hold of me.

Psalm 25:1-2, "Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me."

God will never abandon those who are seeking Him. The question is ... are we seeking our provision from the Lord or are we seeking our Provider?

I have a book, written by Kenneth Osbeck, titled "Amazing Grace," which contains 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions. One of those hymns in his book is "It is Well with My Soul," which is one of my favorite hymns. The words to that hymn were written by Horatio Spafford. Some of the words to that hymn are:

"When peace like a river attended my way, 

When sorrows like sea billows roll 

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, 

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Chorus: It is well (it is well), With my soul (with my soul); 

It is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought. 

My sin, not in part but the whole 

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, 

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh, my soul.

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight; 

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll 

The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend; 

Even so, it is well with my soul.

First, I want to quote what Osbeck wrote about the background of that hymn.

"Spafford had known peaceful and happy days as a successful attorney in Chicago. He was the father of five children, an active member of a Presbyterian church, and a loyal friend and supporter of D. L. Moody and other evangelical leaders of his day. Without warning, however, a series of unexpected events occurred. First, there was the sudden death of the Spafford's only son. Then a short time after, the great Chicago fire of 1871 wiped out the family's extensive real estate investments. When Mr. Moody and his music associate Ira Sankey left for Great Britain for an evangelistic campaign, Spafford decided to take his family to Europe to lift their spirits and also to assist in the meetings.

In November, 1873, Spafford was detained by urgent business, but he sent his wife and four daughters as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Harve, planning to join them soon. Halfway across the Atlantic, the ship was struck by an English vessel and sank in 12 minutes. All four of the Spafford daughters were among the 226 who drowned. Mrs. Spafford was among the few who were miraculously saved.

Horatio Spafford stood hour after hour on the deck of the ship carrying him to rejoin his sorrowing wife in Cardiff, Wales. When the ship passed the approximate place where his precious daughters had drowned, Spafford received sustaining comfort from God that enabled him to write, "When sorrows like sea billows roll ... It is well with my soul." What a picture of our hope!

Inner peace through an implicit trust in the love of God is the real evidence of a mature Christian faith. Only with this kind of confidence in his heavenly Father could Horatio Spafford experience such heart-rending tragedies as he did and yet be able to say, "It is well with my soul." (end quote)

Another man who had an experience like that of Horatio Spafford was Job. 

From Job 2:9-10, "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." 

Many years ago, I heard a word from the Lord. He who is in the fiery furnace the longest comes out the purest. That reminds me of the three children of Judah in Daniel, Chapter 3, who were thrown into the fiery furnace because they refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went into that fiery furnace. We all know the outcome. The Lord not only saved them; He joined them! Everyone remembers the heathen names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Who remembers their REAL names? Hananiah (which means "the Lord is gracious"), Mishael (which means "who is what God is"), and Azariah (which means "the Lord is my keeper").

Psalm 121.

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

1 Peter 4:19, "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."

Psalm 46:1-2, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;"

May we all truthfully say, "it is well with my soul," no matter what the circumstances may be that surround us. Amen.