DEVOTIONAL — I Heard the Bells

 

There are times when the wonder of Christmas overwhelms us with emotion – joy and sorrow, mixed with regrets and anxiety.  We want to celebrate the birth of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, but there’s just so much pain in our lives.  We wonder if we will even make it to December 25th, let alone with Joy to the World and Hark the Herald Angels Singing.

This morning as I was driving to the office, I heard the song, “I Heard the Bells” and found myself weeping and struggling to drive safely with so much emotion leaking out of my eyes.  It is such a “real” song – the author, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was honestly struggling with how he was feeling about Christmas in that moment of time.  His wife had just passed away suddenly.  It was the time of the Civil War, and his son had joined the Union Army without telling Henry and had been gravely wounded in one of the terrible battles.  

The poet felt a mix of hopelessness, sadness and confusion.  Like the Psalmist, he probably was asking God “how long?”  He asked in his verse, how can there be peace on earth?  

As a chaplain who hears sad stories everyday from women who are experiencing abuse and violence and fear in their homes, I have asked the same questions.  How can there be peace on earth when there are wars happening right now in our homes?  Where are you, God, when the violence and threats come like waves?  How long until You return to bring us to our true eternal Home where there will be no tears, no crying, no pain or sorrow, no abuse?

Longfellow heard the bells ringing.  In his great grief and despair, he bowed his head.  And then a miracle happened!  The bells rang louder and deeper and reminded him that God is not dead, nor does He sleep!  The wrong SHALL fail and the right prevail.  There will be peace on earth and good will to men and women.  

We don’t know when that will happen.  God’s timing is perfect, and we will never perfectly understand His timing.  But His Word is true.  His love is loud and deep like those bells.  We are not alone.  We were not left as orphans. God is still in love with His children, those who have trusted Him alone for salvation. He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to this dusty earth.  He lived a perfect life.  He died on the cruel cross and rose again so that we can live with our Father in heaven forever.   

****

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Casting Crowns – I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day Live