It Is Well With My Soul
1 Corinthians 14:15
"So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding."
By anyone's definition, Horatio Spafford was a successful man. A loving husband and father of four, he was an attorney and successful real estate investor in in Chicago, Illinois in the second half of the 19th century.
He was also no stranger to disaster and personal loss. He lost most of his real estate fortune in the Chicago fire of 1871. Two years later, the family was scheduled to take a vacation in London, England where his good friend Dwight L. Moody would be preaching. Spafford was delayed due to business issues, but sent his wife and four daughters ahead. He was to meet them in London when he was finished with his business.
On the voyage, the ship carrying his family collided with an iron sailing vessel. The ship sunk in 12 minutes, and 226 people lost their lives, including Spafford's four daughters. His wife Anna survived, and when she reached Cardiff, Wales after being rescued, sent Spafford a telegram in which she simply stated, "Saved alone."
Spafford immediately left for England. The captain of his ship was aware of the tragedy, and when the ship passed the point of the disaster, he summoned Spafford to the bridge to see the site. As Spafford contemplated the fate of his family, his heart, though broken, was filled with comfort and hope. It is believed that Spafford, when he returned to his cabin, put that comfort and hope into 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, it is well with my soul.
Even after facing heartbreaking tragedy, Horatio Spafford's faith never wavered. He may not have understood the whys of the tragedies he faced, but he understood the God he served, and that understanding allowed his spirit to sing of the peace he and his wife experienced.
We might not understand all that happens to us or those we love, We can, however, understand that God made a way for us to be His children, and as His children we have access to the peace and comfort only God can provide.
The words Horatio Spafford wrote in 1873 are as true today as they were then:
My sin, oh, the bliss 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!
Father, thank you for making a way. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins. Thank you for the peace and understanding that comes from that gift, and for the blessing that comes from singing to you with our spirit. Amen.
This devotion was written and recorded by Cliff McCartney.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.
If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.
First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
