It is Well...

The lyrics to this beautiful and moving hymn should certainly illicit a certain response. When you consider the history behind the words, and music, it is appropriate to feel humbled, and allow oneself to put personal anxieties and stresses into perspective. For the sake of introducing this discussion, a short history of the hymn, "When Peace Like a River," or perhaps better known as, "It Is Well With My Soul," should be given.

1871, Chicago, Illinois : A great tragedy struck when a fire blew through the city leaving 300 people dead and 100,000 homeless. Dwight Moody, founder of Moody Bible Institute and Horatio Gates Spafford, a lawyer and man who penned the lyrics to this hymn, were among those who lost a great deal in the fire, yet still rallied together to help provide for those who were in need.

If that wasn't enough to endure, after 2 years, Horatio and his family decided to enjoy a vacation to England to attend an evangelical crusade with Moody, and then continue on throughout Europe. Due to a delay, Spafford had to send his family ahead without him, and then meet up with them later.

The ship his wife and 4 daughters boarded, Ville de Havre, never made it to Europe. Just off the Newfoundland coast it collided with another ship, the English vessel, Loch Earn, and plummeted to the bottom of the Atlantic within 20 minutes. Spafford lost all four of his daughters that day, and was informed by the one of only 47 survivors that day, his wife. In his grief, Spafford set sail the next day to meet up with his wife, and upon arrival, met up with Moody. In the days following, Spafford, in his grief and pain, penned the words to one of the most recognizable christian hymns as we know today.

In reflection of this story there is a strength that echoes, surpassing time, and space. How could tragedy befall someone, and then spurn them to inspire and write with such beauty and hope? The answer lies in the words of this hymn. "Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, "It is well, with my soul." The peace of Christ resonates throughout the lyrics of this hymn. It was God-written. Only a man who lived through such tragedy could write such honest lyrics. Only a man who lost everything, and lived to tell, could write such lyrics. Only a man broken, with a heart so ravaged and vulnerable could contain the words God Himself felt when He lost everything for us. You see, Hortaio Gates Spafford experienced a glimpse of what God the Father felt the day He lost His only Son, to save the world from being lost forever from Him. So often the hymns and songs we sing move us by melody, or familiarity. When time is taken to explore and relate those words to the situations and people who penned them, very often we will see the correlation of how God allowed mankind to experience a glimmer of what its like to lose something precious, or to rejoice when a prodigal comes home, or to celebrate the saving of one soul. So, the next time we sing a hymn, or read a devotion, please consider the utmost struggle and strength it took to bravely pen the words we read, speak, or sing. In someones case, it was a personal experience that brought us encouragement, strength, hope and grew our faith a little more. Thank you to Horatio G. Spafford, for being a vessel willing to endure such hardship and heartache, and to take from it a lesson that others could relate to, and help them through their hardships and heartaches. Thank you to a man who wasn't afraid, or too overcome by his own grief, that he would take the time to share his thoughts, and his faith. Thank you to a man who would ultimately, and honestly pen words that would reach out, heal and enrich the lives of those who needed to hear the voice of Christ calling to them. My prayer for you, as you read and reflect on this is to know in your heart, that no matter what your circumstance, its never more than we can bear, because God is on our side, and He is our strength and salvation. Even the most dire of circumstances cannot separate us from our God who loves us, and would sacifice Himself to see us saved. It is not by his own strength that Horatio Spafford overcame this ultimate tragedy, but by God through Him that not only healed his hurting heart, but brought forth something beautiful and relevant out of the pit of despair. Allow yourself to be enriched by the experiences of others, and let that strengthen your walk. Let it resonate and allow it to influence the impacts you leave behind. Perhaps out of your great tragedies in life, you too can allow God to speak to others and bless them, and show them He is alive and well. In any case, remember that, whatever our lot, God has taught us to say, "It is well with my soul."