It is well with my soul

Contributed by Lauren Francis, Blogging Team Member

Horatio Spafford was a wealthy and admired lawyer who lived in Chicago during the late 1800’s. He and his wife Anna seemed to have an ideal life; five beautiful children and a lot of land by Lake Michigan. The couple also had a close relationship with D.L. Moody, an inspirational evangelist of the time. They spent lots of time traveling, and enjoying the many luxuries that they had been afforded.

In 1870, the Spafford’s world was turned upside down, as a series of events began that would change their family forever. Their only son died suddenly after he came down with the dangerously toxic scarlet fever at age four. One year later, Horatio learned that the land by the lake, which he had used as real estate investment, had been wiped out by the great Chicago fire. The family suffered a huge financial hit because of this.

In efforts to keep his family’s spirits up, he planned a trip with Moody to England for the summer of 1873. After spending some time in New York, the plan was to board a French steamer headed across the Atlantic toward Britain. Horatio got a last minute business call that resulted in him staying behind while the rest of his family went to enjoy their holiday. He would meet up with them later, after he had taken care of everything back home.

Nine days after his wife and 4 daughters had departed, Horatio received a telegram that informed him of the death of is four daughters. Their ship had crashed, and Anna watched as her four children drowned in the Atlantic.

Overwhelmed with grief and in a hurry to get to his tormented wife, Horatio boarded a ship immediately to go be with her in Wales. During one morning during his travels, the captain of the ship brought him up top and informed him that they were currently sailing over the spot where the French vessel had sunk. The water was only three miles deep, so his family was probably not far below.

Horatio politely excused himself back to his personal cabin and in that dreadful moment, penned the words to the famous hymn “It is Well with My Soul.”

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel!
Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

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If you are like me it’s hard to stomach much of this story. The Spafford’s were a Christ-following family, who spent their time and money investing in evangelism and the spread of the Gospel. However, this family was still bombarded with incredible tragedy in the form of financial loss and the unfathomable death of each of their children. There is no way that any family, let alone this family, deserved all of this devastation.

But it happened. These events were very much a part of Horatio and Anna’s story, whether it was fair or not. Although the details of this tale are unthinkable, there is redemption in this story—by the grace of God.

The Spafford’s had something that I hope we can begin to pray for daily.

Perspective.

If you read the lyrics to the hymn, you’ll find that the entire message of the song circles around the death of Christ on the cross, and how this redemption is the most important thing in Horatio’s life. Horatio was able to articulate his grief, pain and loss in the verse of the great hymn. However, he also shows the unwavering trust of his heart.

It’s not that he doesn’t acknowledge his grief, or pretend that the loss did not happen—but he deals with it in light of the Cross. Although he suffers, he is mindful of an eternal promise, which is something that does not change, regardless of the earthly trials he might be faced with.

It’s easy to praise God when things are going well. It’s easy to be mindful of the cross when most things are comfortable and easy coming for us. But how quick are we to turn from being content in Christ once struggles come? Our perspective often shifts and we forget the truth that God is sovereign and holy over our lives; no matter what those lives might look like at any given time.

This is not something that comes naturally, or easily, or perfectly to anyone. God doesn’t expect that of us, he knows our humanness. God gives us his Spirit to comfort us and if we ask to be filled daily with this spirit, peace can wash over our lives in the darkest of days.

Take a moment to meditate on the lyrics of this amazing hymn below. As you read, pray that the Holy Spirit would allow you peace and an understanding of God’s sovereignty, whatever the circumstances.