22 Nov The Story of Horatio Spafford and “It is Well with My Soul”

There once lived a man named Horatio Spafford. He is best known for his famous hymn, “It is Well with my Soul.“

Most of us have sung the hymn repeatedly, enjoying the beauty and spiritual depth of the lyrics without knowing the gut-wrenching pain through which these words were penned.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to knowa
It is well, it is well, with my soul

First tragedy: Spafford lost his only son at the age of 2.

Second tragedy: The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 ruined him financially.

Third tragedy: After being detained on business affairs, he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to Europe, where he planned to join them. The ship sank after a collision with another sea vessel and all four of his daughters died. His wife sent him a telegram, “Saved alone…”

As he traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to meet his grieving wife, he wrote these words as he passed over the part of the ocean where his daughters had died:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

How could this man who had gone through such horrific, gut-wrenching tragedy write these words?

Why was his response one of quiet trust instead of unrestrained anger?

Why did he offer up a hymn of quiet contentment and gratitude to God through Christ instead of shaking his fist at God?

Why? And How??

There is only one answer, and Spafford sings it over us today whenever we hear his blessed song:

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.

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!

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.

Spafford made a powerful choice that day as he passed his daughter’s watery graves – He chose to focus not merely on his tragic loss and his pain which went as deep as the ocean he was crossing.

Instead, he chose to look at Christ, bleeding on the Cross, for his sins. He chose to find joy in the peace that was his in Christ and in the eternal home in heaven and the reunion he would have there with his son and daughters:

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!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of 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,
A song in the night, oh my soul!

Unfortunately, this was not the end of tragedy in Spafford’s life.

Tragedy 4: He and his wife went on to have three more children: a son and two daughters. His son died at the age of four from scarlet fever.

Tragedy 5: The Spafford’s church at the time regarded their tragedy as divine punishment.

I equate this as a tragedy because instead of the hearts of deep mercy and compassion, the Spafford’s received a sentence of ostracism and a declaration of divine judgement.

What is worth than losing loved ones? Grieving their loss alone.

And yet this is still not the end of their story.

The Staffords didn’t abandon community but simply chose to form a new one aptly named, “The Overcomers.” They then picked up their two daughters and set sail for Jerusalem, where they served the poor and needy of all faith backgrounds, establishing trust in an often tense environment. Horatio died in Jerusalem 4 days before his 60th birthday.

The season of Thanksgiving provides us with ample reminders to “stop and give thanks” and “count our blessings,” which is wonderful.

Let us take time to give thanks for the One “from whom all blessings flow,” for in the moments when all external blessings seem to be washed away, He is still there, strong, sure, offering us forgiveness of our sins, unbroken fellowship, an eternal inheritance, and a peace independent of circumstances.

Like Horatio Spafford, let us remember the man Jesus and the hope he gives, which will anchor our souls through all of life’s storms.

____________________________________

If today’s post has inspired you, check out this beautiful rendition of Spafford’s classic hymn:

It Is Well with My Soul – Jimmy Needham featuring John Piper from Desiring God on Vimeo.