“It Is Well with My Soul!”
Romans 8:28
Horatio Spafford was a
prominent, successful business man in Chicago, IL, in the middle 1800’s. He had
enjoyed great success. He was wealthy, well-known and influential. Overnight he
lost almost everything. The great Chicago fire left him in near financial ruin.
He decided to relocate his
family. At two o’clock in the morning, November 22, 1873, he loaded his wife
and four daughters onto a French luxury liner, (the largest and most luxurious
in the world), and kissed them good-bye, promising to meet them in France in a
few weeks, as soon as he could settle his business affairs.
Several days out of port,
that luxurious ship, sailing peacefully toward France, was rammed by an English
ship. It took the largest, best, most luxurious ship in the world just two
hours to sink to the ocean floor!
Two hundred and twenty-six people died on that ship, including all four of the Spafford daughters. Nine days latter, when the survivors landed safely at Cardiff, Wales, Spafford received a short wire from his wife. It contained just two words - “Saved alone.”
As soon as possible, he booked passage on a ship to Europe to join his wife. On the way over, the Captain called Spafford to the bridge of the ship. He said, “According to my calculations, we are now passing over the place where your children drowned.” Spafford thanked the Captain, went back to his cabin, and wrote these lines…
“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, it is well with
my soul.’”
This man who had lost his
business, his home, and his children, said to a friend, “I am glad I can trust
the Lord when it costs me something.” When he and his wife finally met and embraced
one another, she said, “We have not lost our children. We are only separated
for a little while.”
How could that man and his
wife bear such trials, such losses, such heartaches, with such composure? Only
one answer can be given. Horatio Spafford and his wife believed God. They were
convinced in their hearts of that which is recorded in Romans 8:28. "And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose."
The knowledge and understanding
of God’s providence is the comfort and strength of believing hearts in the
midst of their trials and temptations in this world. Blessed of God and happy,
truly happy, are those people in this vale of tears who know and trust our God,
the God of all providence!
Grace For Today Radio Message #578
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net