There are moments in life that impact us so deeply we couldn't shake them if we tried. They are the very moments that compose our stories and shape us in profound ways. Some of these moments are beautiful and sweet, some are painful and biting, some are full of sentiment and simply evocative, some seem to have elements of all of the aforementioned. It seems like these moments, whether easy or hard to walk through, are evidence of God's work in life.
Earlier in the week I had a friend text me about how thankful she was for the blessed assurance she had in Christ during difficult times in her life. The phrase "blessed assurance" creates a seemingly, instant chain reaction in my mind. "Blessed Assurance" is not a mere phrase, but a hymn and not just any hymn to me. It is the hymn that for ten years has induced very real tears whenever I have heard it or tried to sing it.
When I was in seventh grade, my grandpa's health declined rapidly. He was becoming senile and started to neglect his Type 2 Diabetes. The three of us kids came home from school to find that our parents had rushed to Phoenix to see grandpa who had been placed in hospice care. We got a call later that evening that grandpa had gone home to Jesus, while grandma and his kids encircled him in prayer.
Grandpa 'Skip' was my first grandparent to pass away and his memorial service was the first time that I ever saw my older cousins cry. The whole family came together, all six of the Williams' kids were there. They shared different things about their father, and as the guests were able to share about my grandpa's life it was clear that God had used him to impact people with the gospel. As the service ended, my dad and his five siblings made their way to the front of the sanctuary; there, they sang the hymn "Blessed Assurance."
Earlier in the week I had a friend text me about how thankful she was for the blessed assurance she had in Christ during difficult times in her life. The phrase "blessed assurance" creates a seemingly, instant chain reaction in my mind. "Blessed Assurance" is not a mere phrase, but a hymn and not just any hymn to me. It is the hymn that for ten years has induced very real tears whenever I have heard it or tried to sing it.
When I was in seventh grade, my grandpa's health declined rapidly. He was becoming senile and started to neglect his Type 2 Diabetes. The three of us kids came home from school to find that our parents had rushed to Phoenix to see grandpa who had been placed in hospice care. We got a call later that evening that grandpa had gone home to Jesus, while grandma and his kids encircled him in prayer.
Grandpa 'Skip' was my first grandparent to pass away and his memorial service was the first time that I ever saw my older cousins cry. The whole family came together, all six of the Williams' kids were there. They shared different things about their father, and as the guests were able to share about my grandpa's life it was clear that God had used him to impact people with the gospel. As the service ended, my dad and his five siblings made their way to the front of the sanctuary; there, they sang the hymn "Blessed Assurance."
- Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.- This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
- This is my story, this is my song,
- Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.- This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
- This is my story, this is my song,
- Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. - This was dad's story, this was dad's song,
Praising his Savior all the day long;
This was dad's story, this was dad's song,
Praising his Savior all the day long.
On the last time through, in their beautiful voices, they rejoiced that this was their dad's story and this was dad's song. He praised his Savior all the day long.
What a blessed assurance we had that day, and this day too, one day we will all be joined with our beautiful Savior. Oh even now we watch and wait, we look above, expecting and longing for our great Love! I doubt I will ever hear this song and not think back to this moment. Today as we sang this hymn in worship, I sang with a thankful heart for the truths I was proclaiming, and for the spiritual heritage that my grandpa left his six children, his grandchildren, and the many people who were gathered in attendance that day to celebrate his life.
Thank You, Lord, for the blessed assurance that we have in You. Thank You that as we live in the gospel, we live out of Your story and it becomes our own. Thank You for Your faithfulness through all generations! You are from everlasting to everlasting! May I be a woman who praises my Savior all the day long! I love you, Lord!
