Is It Really Well With Your Soul?

In 1871 the city of Chicago was nearly destroyed by what is known as the Great Chicago Fire. Over 300 people died from the flames and approximately 100,000 were left homeless. One of the heroes in the aftermath was Horatio Gates Spafford. Spafford, who was an attorney, had lost a great deal of real estate in the fire. Despite such great personal financial loss and then combined with the untimely death of his son, Spafford for around two years unselfishly helped to assist the needs of the homeless, impoverished, and grief-stricken by the fire. Such merciful and kind acts as these to his fellow-men just helped to strengthen the testimony as to why Horatio G. Spafford was known throughout Chicago as a sincere, devout Christian.

After about two years of such work, in November 1873, Spafford and his family decided to take a vacation in England, and then from there the Spafford’s planned on traveling on to Europe.

Just as the Spafford’s were preparing to leave, Horatio was unexpectedly detained by urgent business concerns in Chicago. The decision was made that his wife Anna and their daughters Anna, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta would continue on as scheduled to England. Once after Spafford had resolved the business concern he would then catch up with them on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

The ship, the S.S. Ville du Harve, which his wife and daughters were traveling on never reached England. Off Newfoundland, the ship collided with an English sailing vessel, the Loch Earn. The ship sank rapidly, approximately within 20 minutes after it was struck.

Mrs. Spafford was one of the 47 to survive but tragically all four of their daughters were part of the 226 who perished in the aftermath. Anna Spafford’s heartbreaking telegram to her husband simply read: “Saved alone.”
Horatio immediately set sail for England to join his grief stricken wife. As the ship that he was traveling on passed the approximate location where his daughters had drowned, it is reported that due to his deep sorrow mingled with his unwavering faith in God’s goodness that he penned the words of his now famous hymn - “It Is Well with My Soul.”

Probably very few of us will ever face such depth of tragedy like Horatio Spafford. However, if we live long enough, some type of tragedy will find its way into our lives. For some it will be the death of a loved one, such as a child, parent, or our spouse. To others of us tragedy may strike with a heart attack, cancer, or some other major disabling disease. There can be divorces, financial ruin, or loss of close friends and associates. Sometimes the tragedies are not even personal ones. It is crystal clear. Tragedy comes upon us all. God followers and those that are not are all victims. No matter the circumstances in life, the position or the lot, all people will face tragedy. Calamity will come.

The question is how to face them? Will I become anxious? Or, will I face them with a calm that it is well with my soul?

Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6)

Yes there are outcomes that I’d like and even prefer. There are ways I’d like things to turn out. but they aren’t demands, they are requests. Inner peace will never be realized if our requests are just disguised demands. Peace comes when I am able to trust what He has promised…. that He loves me and will be at work for my good.

This peace will sustain “when sorrows like sea billows roll.” It keeps me going “whatever my lot,” because He is teaching me to say, “It Is Well with My Soul.”