Is it well with your soul?

These simple words once served as a greeting between believers. These days, the phrase invokes the beautiful words of the hymn When Peace, Like A River. However, one knows them, the question may seem pretentious, but I believe that it is an incredible, theologically deep question that we should be asking one another, and even ourselves, everyday.

Think of how you currently great a brother or sister. I would guess the most personal we are willing to get is asking, “How are you doing?” Even then, we rarely expect a comprehensive answer. When people do respond according, it can catch us off guard as if we didn’t know we were asking a question. It is not a bad question to ask; it shows concern for a person’s emotional, physical, or mental state, and yet it still seems superficial. It skims the surface of our very humanity.

Compare now to the question, “Is it well with your soul?” This is a personal inquiry into the deepest parts of any person. It encompasses everything about who they are, and in particular how they are in relation to God and thus to His people. If we have concern for our loved ones as whole people, then should we not be paying attention to the state of their immortal soul, not just their earthly bodies?

And what about ourselves? When we wake up in the morning and take inventory of ourselves, such as are my legs sore from working out, am I fatigued from writing that report, or am I still depressed about that terrible date I went on, how often do we take stock of our souls. What is our first thought in the morning was, “Is it well with my soul?” Chances are we would answer negatively more often than not. In a world filled with business, disappointment, and isolation we need, more than ever, to continually turn to God. We must ask Him to make our souls well so that from the time our feet hit the ground we can be living for Him.

So I ask you, is it well with your soul?

Pax,

Paul Hart Cochran