Posted by
Curtal Friar on Sunday, June 08, 2008 4:59:27 PM
The following story was written to answer a request from another Townhall blogger. I dedicate this story to my wife and son. May the following words inspire the reader to trust in God, and turn to Him when the going gets tough and tragedy strikes.
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A knock sounded on the door of Horatio Spafford's room, and he got up and crossed the floor and opened it.
"Sir, forgive the intrusion, but the Captain requests your presence at his cabin," spoke the sailor that stood at the entrance. "If you'll accompany me, I'll take you there." Horatio grabbed his coat and followed the seaman. A couple of minutes later, he was in the captain's cabin.
"Mr. Spofford," said the captain, acknowledging Horatio when he entered.
"We're getting close, I take it?" asked Horatio.
"Yes. We should be over the site within the hour." The captain paused and looked hard at Horatio. "I trust all is well with you. Do you require company? I can certainly have one of my men stand with you."
"All is well with my soul," Horatio answered, looking the captain in the eye without flinching. "Thank you for your concern, sir. I shall proceed up to the deck."
The weather was nice. A fair wind blew and there were some waves, but just enough to give a pleasant roll to the ship. Horatio stood and looked out over the ocean, lost in thought. It was not long ago at all that his wife had been almost on this very spot. He had sent his wife, Anna, and his daughters, Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta on the ship S.S. Ville du Havre, bound for England. Horatio was to join them later in the month and they were going to travel about Europe on vacation. Then tragedy struck. By accident, the Ville du Havre was rammed by the British ship, the Lochearn. The Ville du Havre was damaged badly and sunk within twelve minutes after being struck.
Horatio's wife and other survivors were picked up by the crew of the Lochearn and then transferred to the Trimountain, another vessel which took the survivors on to Cardiff, Wales. After she arrived in Wales, Anna cabled her husband with a very short message: "Saved alone. What shall I do?" All four of their daughters had drowned, in the vicinity of where Horatio now stood looking out over the rail at the ocean.
Horatio was no stranger to tragedy. He had already lost a son, and had lost a substantial amount of money and property when Chicago was devastated by fire in October, 1871. But this tragedy was the worst. He and his wife were now alone. Horatio was not consumed by grief, however. There were moments when the black abyss of despair beckoned, and he likely would have answered the call, but for the loving grace of God.
"All is well with me," he whispered, as he looked out over the water. "It...is well with my soul." He felt the presence of God, filling his mind and spirit with calm strength. Horatio knew that life contained tragedy as well as joy, and that God would be there with him through it all. Though many had used Horatio's situation to question the existence of God, and had raised the question of how God could allow such horrible things to happen, he knew that they were bound up in foolishness and their own pettiness. Horatio knew that God does not remove his followers from the world so that nothing painful or bad would ever happen to them. Rather, God provides the strength and grace needed to make it through the hard times without losing faith or hope or humanity.
"It is well with my soul," Horatio repeated, and then inspiration filled his mind. He paused for a few moments, and then proceeded down to his cabin, where soon he was seated with pen in hand, furiously writing.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Refrain
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Refrain
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!
Refrain
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
Refrain
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
Refrain
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.
Refrain
The hymn that Horatio wrote that day went on to become one of our most beloved hymns. It demonstrates the quiet peace and strength that is possible when one puts his faith in God. When tragedy abounds and our lives are ripped asunder, if we but quiet ourselves and listen to the still, calm voice of God, He will fill us with the strength and confidence we need to make it through, secure in the knowledge that all this will pass away, but His love and mercy and strength are forever, and it won't be long till we are reunited with our loved ones in heaven before the throne of God forever. If tragedy strikes you, may you remember Horatio's story, and may you as well quiet yourself and let God fill you with his love and grace, and you too will be able to sing Horatio's hymn with joy and peace that passes all understanding.
May God bless each and every one of you.