One of my favorite songs was playing while I navigated through a recent downpour. Humming along to the old hymn helped calm my nerves. "It is well with my soul," I half mumbled while I changed lanes. I didn't notice how loud the storm was until we stopped at a red light.

And then, there is was. A phrase that I hadn't really noticed. "Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well, with my soul.'" I get it now. Someone might get sick. The car can breakdown. One of us could be laid off from our job. That won't change God's love for me. It won't change my true self-my soul. I need to remember who is still in charge.

And, if God has taught me to say something, well, I should give it a chance. I need to stop glimpsing at God and gazing on my circumstances.

Instead, I need to gaze on God and glimpse at my conflicts. I need to repeat the words, "You have taught me to say it is well with my soul." No matter what happens, I truly am well.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).