Peace: When Billows Roll

Just about everything and every activity has a story. If you reflect on how you met your spouse, there is a story; the house you purchased, there is a story; the job where you work, there is a story. There is a story even for what you had for dinner tonight.

So the story behind what we do is important. There is a story about a man whose name was  Horatio Spafford. He was a businessman who lived in Chicago with his wife and five children. He was a successful businessman who loved the Lord and life was good. Tragedy struck the family when their young son died of pneumonia. Then, they lost most of their business in the great Chicago fire. It was the mercies of God that Spafford  was able to rebuild his business. 

The family planned to take a trip to Europe. At the last moment, the husband had to remain in Chicago and so his wife, Anna, with their four daughters, took the boat to travel to Europe.  While they were in transit, there was a terrible boat accident and the four girls drowned. One of the sailors checking the spot where the boat went down spotted Anna floating on a piece of the wreckage and she was rescued. She sent her husband a telegram: “Saved alone.” 

Her husband left to join his grieving wife. When he got to the spot where his children died, he pulled out a pen and paper and penned the words to It Is Well With My Soul.

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.

This hymn is timeless. This story reminds me of Job. He also lost his family. His response was  “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21 AMP) Like Job, they had three more children. One died of pneumonia. So when life gets tough, think about the history of this song and the tragedy that the family endured as you sing it, remember, God is with you.

Thought for Today: Friend, in everything, give thanks.

Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.