Olney Hymns · Chapter
Peace After a Storm explained
The poem reflects on the peace that follows a period of spiritual darkness and doubt.
What happens
The poem reflects on the peace that follows a period of spiritual darkness and doubt. The speaker acknowledges the folly of their fears and doubts, confesses their weakness and proneness to sin, and finds comfort in the unchanging love of God. A single look from the Lord subdues the rebellious will, bringing peace and prompting repentance and praise.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The poem emphasizes God's readiness to forgive despite the speaker's proneness to repine, highlighting unmerited favor.
Faith and Trust in Christ
The speaker confesses weakness in faith but finds that a look from Christ restores trust and peace.
Characters to notice
- The Redeemer
The speaker addresses the Redeemer, finding in Him the answer to doubt and the source of peace.
- The Lord
The Lord's look subdues the disobedient will and drives away doubt and discontent.
- The Narrator
The speaker reflects on personal struggles with doubt and the experience of peace after the storm.
Key passages
“When darkness long has veil’d my mind. And smiling day once more appears, Then, my Redeemer, then I find The folly of my doubts and fears.”
After a long period of spiritual darkness, when peace returns, I realize how foolish my doubts and fears were.
The speaker acknowledges the folly of doubt after experiencing renewed peace.
“That God is love and changes not, Nor knows the shadow of a turn.”
God is love and is unchanging, without any variation or shadow of turning.
The speaker learns the unchanging nature of God's love.
“But, my Lord, one look from thee Subdues the disobedient will; Drives doubt and discontent away, And thy rebellious worm is still.”
A single look from the Lord calms my rebellious heart, removes doubt and discontent, and brings stillness.
The power of Christ's gaze to bring peace and submission.
“Thou art as ready to forgive, As I am ready to repine; Thou, therefore, all the praise receive; Be shame and self-abhorrence mine.”
You are just as ready to forgive as I am to complain; therefore, all praise belongs to You, and I am left with shame and self-loathing.
The contrast between God's readiness to forgive and human proneness to complain.