Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine.
I’ll always remember the last words of my grandfather, who said, “Look out, a truck”—-Emo Philips
Would you trust God if you lost almost everything you held dear? Let me tell you the story of Horatio Spafford. He was a very successful attorney in Chicago and a loyal friend of evangelist D.L. Moody and other evangelical leaders of his day. Then in 1871, a series of setbacks began starting with the famous Chicago fire. The fire wiped out most of his extensive real estate holdings.
D.L. Moody and his team decided to hold an evangelistic campaign in England. Spafford decided to help and vacation in Europe at the same time. Kind of a ‘lift your family’s spirits’ time. In November 1873 Spafford was detained by business at the last minute but he sent his wife and 4 adult daughters along. He would join them shortly. On the way across the Atlantic, their ship was struck by another ship and sank in 12 minutes. While Mrs. Spafford barely survived, all four of their daughters drown.
Spafford rushed to be with his wife in Wales. When his ship passed the spot where his daughters drown, he wrote these words:
“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 with my soul.
Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come, lest this blessed assurance control, that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and shed His own blood for 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.”
Chorus: It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
The beloved hymn, “It is well with my soul”.
If you lost all your children and your wife was severally injured in a car accident, could you say how God was treating you was ‘well with your soul’? It is at times like this that I realize that, no matter how far in my faith walk with Jesus that I’ve come, I still have a long way to go.
Thank you, Horatio Spafford, for your example. Like Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ”
(1st Corinthians 11:1 and Philippians 3:17).
What do you think of Horatio Spafford’s faith?
For His Kingdom,
Dave Maynard
