Fear Thou Not; For I Am With Thee

 

One of the hardest songs I’ve ever learned on the piano is Fantaisie Impromptu by Chopin. What makes this piece difficult is 1) the speed 2) the four sharps, & most of all 3) the cross-rhythms! The left hand plays an entirely different timing (triplets) than the right hand (16th notes). If you tried to match them up mathematically, you can’t. You have to almost subconsciously play one hand while consciously playing the other.

Should be utter chaos.

And yet, it’s so beautiful. 

Somehow it works & the accented melody shines through.

Rhythmic tension. 

Story of my life.

The last few weeks have held some of the hardest & scariest moments of my mothering life.

One day I hope to share my experience from the other side.

But there is quite a ways to go & it will get worse before it gets better.

Until then, it’s a fight.

Until then, I pray we can get through this.

It’s interesting that our scripture reading has been Isaiah- which has some of the most confusing, yet some of the most poignant, soul-soothing, heart-reaching verses in all of scripture.

So while I struggle in feelings of helplessness, pain, & overwhelm,

I read about strength, mercy, kindness, healing, comfort, joy.

I am reading about my Savior, whose acquaintance with grief means He knows mine, & He comes below all things to sit there with me.

So difficult. So beautiful.

Rhythmic tension.

The melody plays on.

Life’s hard. But so good. I am grateful. There are things going so right. And even through the wrong, there are snippets of silver & angels of mercy.

I love the gospel of Christ. It’s about change & becoming & hope & miracles & faith & divine power & joy.

All mixed in with the human frailty of the mortal experience.

It’s quite the song.💫

“God is my salvation; I will trust, & not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength & my song” (Isa. 12:2)

“The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces” (25:8)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee” (41:10)

“He hath borne our griefs, & carried our sorrows… & with his stripes we are healed.” (53:4-5)

“For the mountains shall depart, & the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee” (54:10)