Friday, June 11, 2010

It Is Well With My Soul

Psalms 46:1 (NKJV) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

One of my favorite hymns is "It Is Well With My Soul," written from the heart of God through Horatio Spafford. Here's the story behind that hymn as shared by Kenneth Osbeck in "Amazing Grace, 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories."


"Inner peace through an implicit trust in the love of God is the real evidence of a mature Christian faith. Only with this kind of confidence in his heavenly Father could Horatio Spafford experience such heart-rending tragedies as he did and yet be able to say, 'It is well with my soul'."

Spafford had known peaceful and happy days as a successful attorney in Chicago. He was the father of four daughters, an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and a loyal friend and supporter of D. L. Moody and other evangelical leaders of his day. Then, a series of calamities began, starting with the great Chicago fire of 1871, which wiped out the family's extensive real estate investments. When Mr. Moody and his music associate, Ira Sankey, left for Great Britain for an evangelistic campaign, Spafford decided to lift the spirits of his family by taking them on a vacation to Europe. He also planned to assist in the Moody-Sankey meetings there.

In November, 1873, Spafford was detained by urgent business, but he sent his wife and four daughters as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Harve, planning to join them soon. Halfway across the Atlantic, the ship was struck by an English vessel and sank in 12 minutes. All four of the Spafford daughters-Tanetta, Maggie, Annie and Bessie-were among the 226 who drowned. Mrs. Spafford was among the few who were miraculously saved. Horatio Spafford stood, hour after hour, on the deck of the ship carrying him to rejoin his sorrowing wife in Cardiff, Wales. When the ship passed the approximate place where his precious daughters had drowned, Spafford received sustaining comfort from God that enabled him to write, "When sorrows like sea billows roll, it is well with my soul." What a picture of our hope!

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll-Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well with my soul.Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and shed His own blood for 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.
Chorus: It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.


By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
Pastor Ed, what an encouragement, truly! This, I believe, is the true definition of what a follower of Christ should be. We don't realize what freedom there is in this giving up of oneself and one's own opinions, thoughts, desires, how we think things should be and everything that has to do with "me." When Jesus is first, so are others. God bless.

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