It is Well with My Soul
Lauri Anne Jacobs
“It is Well with My Soul” is a hymn written by Horatio Spafford in 1873 after personal tragedies struck. He was inspired to write the lyrics while crossing the Atlantic Ocean following the loss of his four daughters in a shipwreck. His wife Anna survived the sinking of the SS Ville du Havre and sent a telegram which read saved alone. Spafford penned the hymn as a testament to his faith and peace in the midst of devastation. The first verse says, “When peace like a river attend 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.” When I think of this man and his great loss it gives me chills. He never lost faith and had complete trust in God. My worst day cannot compare to the tragedy this man endured. How many of us today could stand with that kind of faith a trust in God? People today love to grumble and complain over the smallest inconvenience. We have all the ease and luxuries at our fingertips, but still are not happy. Christians are the ones who should set the example, but more times than not are the main ones doing the grumbling and complaining.
I am reminded of one of my favorite songs The Outlaw’s Prayer by Johnny Paycheck. There is a verse that says “Then there’s those fine cars parked outside. Too many for me to count. Made me think of how people walked for days to hear your sermon on the mount”. Today we have cars to drive to air-conditioned churches with comfortable seats, and yet people still complain. What happened to the kind of folks who walked for miles to sit on wooden benches outside to hear the word of God? Their living room has become their sanctuary, the recliner their pew, and the TV is their preacher. In this modern world of quick and easy, people will never be satisfied. So few take the time to slow down and think of the many blessings in life, and how even on our worse days in this great country we are blessed. There are some who truly have it bad, have little to nothing, and they are still happy and thankful. God judges by what is in the heart, not what is in the bank account. There is coming a time, and I believe it is much sooner than we think, that we are going to need the faith and trust in God that Horatio Spafford had when he wrote that hymn. Will you be able to stand up in the face of adversity and devastation with all faith and complete trust in God and say it is well with my soul?
