Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 2 Kings 4: 26.
Dear God, please help us, that, “whatever [our] lot,” we may be able to say, “It is well with my soul.” For Christ’s sake; Amen.
Today, we are going to look at a spirit of steadfast faith, through the life experience of a couple, who suffered unthinkable pain. In the midst of it all, they were able to hold on to the garment of the Savior, and not let it go, until they were blessed with peace. This peace was not dependent upon circumstances, but upon the grace of God, that “is sufficient;” in every situation.
Horatio G. Spafford, was a successful, rich, lawyer, from Chicago. He and his wife Anna, had four daughters and one son. At age four, their only son, contracted scarlet fever, and died. Shortly thereafter, they lost all of their real estate investment, during the great Chicago fire. Being good friends of evangelist D. L. Moody, who was holding evangelistic meetings, and needed help; they decided to join two purposes into one, by travelling to England, for a well needed rest; and at the same time, to help evangelist Moody with the meetings.
At the last minute, Horatio was unable to travel, due to business, but convinced his wife to go ahead with the four girls, promising to join them at a later date. Anna and the girls departed on the Ville de Havre, a French steamer sailing across the Atlantic. They never made it to their destination. The ship was struck by an English vessel, The Lochearn. In twelve minutes it had sunk, claiming 226 lives; including the Spafford’s four daughters. Horatio, nine days later, received a telegram from Anna: “Saved alone.” Leaving everything behind him, Horatio hurried to the side of his wife. When he was told that the ship was passing over the area that had become the watery grave of his four daughters, Horatio penned the following words, which were later set to music:
“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.
Refrain: It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin- O the joy of this glorious thought- My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll: The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, ‘Even so it is well with my soul.’ “
Now, where do you receive courage, such as this, to be able to write with such conviction, in the face of such cruel, heartrending, tragedy; except in the bosom of our heavenly Parent? May none of us ever have to go through such debilitating tragedy! Nevertheless, may God help us that in whatever condition we find ourselves, we may be able to say with full assurance: “It is well, with my soul!”