Wow. Jennifer Rothschild’s “It is Well With My Soul” message was powerful. It was so great to have a full house, too — many, many seeds planted.

For a recap of her message, read our tweets during her presentation (Finding Contentment When It’s Not Well With Your Circumstances). If you haven’t read Jennifer’s background, it will blow you away. She found out she had a degenerative eye disease in high school and was almost totally blind when she went away to college. To see a women with such strong convictions and faith in God at such a formative age is inspiring.

Her entire message was spirit moving, and I will linger on each and every point this summer (what a way to end the series!). I can’t wait for the video to be up online so I can hear it again. Until then, here are three things to chew on:

• Rest. Resist. One little letter: i. When you demand of God “your” way, you’re just focused on the “i,” yourself. Rest in God. Let God work within your circumstance. Be content, like Jennifer.
• Don’t be angry with God. “When we’re angry with God, it hurts us,” Jennifer said. Don’t “build bricks of anger” that will separate you from God. Trust God, not your feelings.
• Heroes stay in the battle; heroes aren’t the ones who fix things. If you suffer from “spectator grace,” Jennifer said it’s sometimes harder to watch the person suffering than to be the person suffering. And she knows, so trust her.

If we’re not in a storm, we’ve just gotten out of a storm, or there’s one looming. Those rough patches, mountains, obstacles are part of life as a Christian woman. And while God loves us, and understands when we question why we’re suffering, we can’t forget that, ultimately, He is our refuge. He is our answer. Whether it’s illness, divorce, death, etc., listen to what Jennifer says and let it be “well with your soul.” I think that’s a place we all wish to be — content with our circumstances.

I personally needed this message. My mother died six years ago; I’ve hit rough patches in my marriage; my husband just lost his job; my family relationships are strained. I cry over and over again to God, asking, “Why? Have I not suffered enough? Have I not showed you I believe and cling to you in times of trouble. What else do I need to do to show you … what else do I need to do for you to end my suffering? I know you can end my suffering.” When Jennifer told the story about her son praying over and over that God would heal her eyes, that story hit home. His revelation as to why God wouldn’t heal her eyes was this: “Mom, because God wants you to love heaven more.” From the mouth of babes.

Jennifer said God didn’t use blindness to define her. He used it to refine her. God could have given her answers and healing. Instead, He gave contentment.

And from a faithful woman, you get your answer: “How could I ask for more?”

Cristen Hixson

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)