It Is Well With My Soul
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 (NKJV)
In 1871, a fire swept through downtown Chicago, destroying a large part of the city. One of those hit hard was a lawyer and businessman who lost most of his investment properties. This loss came on the heels of a deeper loss - that of his only son, who passed away the previous year from scarlet fever. While he is trying to make sense of these tragedies, he is invited by preacher and evangelist D.L. Moody to join him for a series of meetings in England. He agrees, hoping the trip would help him and his family find some rest away from Chicago.
He, his wife and four daughters travel to New York to catch the French steamer, Ville de Havre, to England. Shortly before they set sail, he is called back to Chicago to tend to an urgent business matter. He persuades his wife to go ahead with their daughters. He would follow later. Nine days after they board the steamer, he receives a telegram from his wife with these two words: “Saved alone.” The Ville de Havre had collided with an English vessel and had sunk in the Atlantic. None of their daughters survived. The man who read these words was Horatio Spafford. The same man who penned the well-known hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. He penned these words as he was sailing to England to join his grieving wife.
God’s Everlasting Arms
Not many of us will experience this kind of tragedy, but all of us will experience some form of loss in our lives. Our losses – material loss, loss of a loved one, loss of status or influence - will either drive us away from God or will drive us to Him. Spafford chose to run to Jesus, the only One who could ease the deep pain he felt. He looked to a sovereign God, who lovingly held his life in His everlasting arms.
The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27b (ESV)
God is our eternal dwelling place. He is the One in whom we can find refuge in our sorrow and grief. He is the One who shelters us and helps us find rest in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91:1-2). He is our comforter. The One who gives us peace in our heartache and sorrow.
When we experience any kind of loss, we can run to Jesus and declare as Spafford did:
“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!”
We can know that it is well with our souls, because God holds us by His righteous right hand and says, “Fear not, I am with you.”
Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
Reflection:
n your sorrow and pain, is it well with your soul?
Prayer:
Lord, You see my deep sorrow and grief. I come to You to rest in Your everlasting arms. Comfort me, Lord. Flood my soul with Your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
