The Rainbow Through the Rain

 

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
 I cannot close my heart to thee;
 I trace the rainbow through the rain,
 and feel the promise is not vain
  that morn shall tearless be.

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go -- Matheson & Peace

Ruth, my wife sent a video to someone dear to us who is going through an extremely difficult season in her life. Music and faith are important to this person, but at times in life our resources are exhausted, that which gives us comfort can seem empty,  and God seems distant.



Ruth chose a men's choir, the Westminster Chorus, singing the classic 19th century hymn, O Love that Will Not Let Me Go. I'm quite sure that I never included this hymn in a worship service during my years of ministry, nor do I recall it being sung at a funeral or memorial. Yet I know it, and this version moved me to tears. Perhaps it was seeing these younger men, dressed in street clothes, as though they could be heading out to work after they finished singing, that touched me so. As we go about our daily lives others don't know of what are often the heroic decisions to take another step through the "valley of the shadow."

The verse that puddle-ized me was the third, which is printed above. It speaks of the joy which is a gift from God, even when we are at our lowest ebb. There are several persons we love who are struggling with sadness and loss at the moment, and we pray. We do feel helpless at times to make a difference for them, but there is hope in this old hymn and I'm grateful for Ruth's sensitivity and pastoral heart.

Have a listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiZ9xXoZ1Mk