It Is Well With My Soul – Hymn Series Day 5

In the 1870's, Horatio Spafford found himself to be a successful lawyer and property investor, the husband of a beautiful wife, and a father of 4 daughters. He was a committed Christian and was close friends with DL Moody and other well known ministers of the day. But his life took a tragic turn when the Chicago Fire in 1871 destroyed almost everything he had, leaving him in financial ruins. In 1873, and with the economic downturn looming, Spafford organised a trip to England for some reprieve from the happenings in Chicago. At the last minute, some business came up and he sent his family on without him, planning to join them shortly afterward in England. A few days after their departure he received news that the ship his family were on, had suffered a collision and many had died. He received a now famous telegram from his wife which wrote “Saved alone…” All four of his daughters perished in the collision, His wife surviving them and grieving in England.

He set sail to join her, and near the place where his daughters died he penned this beautiful Hymn, with the amazing phrase “When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.” It takes a deep discipline and conviction of the grace and love of Jesus to be able to stand in the midst of such turmoil and humbly declare those words. Be encouraged today that whatever you are facing, you are not facing it alone. Jesus is with you, and he can teach your heart to say these words no matter what your ‘lot' is.

What I love about this story is that it doesn't end here. Horatio and his wife went on to have more children and they eventually moved to Jerusalem where they helped found a group called “The American Colony” whose mission was to serve the poor.
How incredible that out of great tragedy, greater hope can be birthed…. No matter what we face, we can join with Horatio who sings across the ages “It is well, It is well with my soul”.

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