Spafford

Horatio G Spafford wrote one of the church type songs that resonates most with me. You know, the ones that when you sing it's like the words, the music, the meaning are part of all that you think and feel.

 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.

 It is well, 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.

 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.

 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!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

 A few weeks ago at church we learned about the circumstances Spafford was in when he wrote it. He had already had a bit of a rough time, with a son dying and a lot of property he had bought as an investment going up in smoke. He and his wife decided to take a trip to England, thinking the break would do them good, and it would mean being able to support D. I. Moody who was preaching in England at the time. Some last minute business prevented Spafford from travelling with his wife and daughters. Unfortunately the boat they were travelling on was struck by another boat, causing it to sink. His wife survived, but sadly his children did not. On arriving in England his wife sent message to him saying 'saved alone. What shall I do....' Spafford set sail for England to join his wife. When the boat he was travelling on was at the same place the boat carrying his family went down the captain informed him of this fact. He went to his cabin and penned the above hymn. What a testimony.

 Life has thrown various curve balls at me at times. There have been times when it's been hard to see how to make a way through. But through it all, through tricky jobs, bad relationships, struggling with studying, parental illness of various kinds, all that went on with mum and auntie B, moving away from loved ones, depression, CFS/ME, through everything I can, and always have been able to say, it is well with my soul. All thanks and praise to God.