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, 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.
Refrain
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!
Refrain
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.
Refrain
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!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
Refrain
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.
This hymn was written by Horatio Spafford, after two major traumas in Spafford’s life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired these words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth. (reprinted)
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:35-39
I knew about Horatio Spafford's story. I marvel at the grace the Lord gave him, as he sailed across the Atlantic to join his wife, penning this famous hymn the night his ship crossed the spot where the wreck took place that took the lives of his four daughters, and 222 others. Mr. Spafford was a well known wealthy Chicago lawyer and businessman, a devout follower of our Lord, a huge supporter of DL Moody, yet he was faced with this crushing tragedy, and others: the Great Chicage fire wiped out most of his fortune, and the deaths of two other children, one before the shipwreck and one after. How could this happen?
When tragic things happen...when bad things happen to good people, we find ourselves asking the question: WHY? HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? GOD, WHERE ARE YOU IN ALL OF THIS?
Paul repeatedly asked the Lord to take away the "thorn" that plagued him for years, and yet the Lord refused, telling Paul: MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU. Paul did so many good works, led so many to the Lord even to this day, his work is still impacting us, but the Lord saw fit to cause him to suffer. The Scriptures tell us that we are co-inheritors of the kingdom and blessings of the Lord along with Jesus, but let us not forget, that in this life drinking from the cup of suffering may come, just as Jesus suffered.
God is sovereign, He is the boss, and trials, some small and some devastating, will come in this life.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6, and the hundreds of other scriptures directly us to trust Him with written under the inspiration of a God who loves us and who knew what was coming. He loved us some much that He didn't spare His only sone for our redemption. The Word is Life, Truth, and Power, not feel good clichés to medicate our suffering
How could we ever, for a moment, doubt Him, even while in the crucible of crushing grief and pain?
Jesus told us, "In this life you will have trouble, but take heart, because I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."
Beloved, whatever you are dealing with! cast your cares on Him. He is with you, that is a matter of fact, not feeling...
Keep breathing...let praises and thanks come from your mouth...tears come at night, but as we fall into His arms, joy will come.
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