Many people are familiar with the story of Horatio Spafford. Horatio was a well-known attorney and a contemporary of D.L. Moody in Chicago. The Spafford family, including his wife Anna and their four daughters, planned a family vacation in England in 1873. A last-minute business crisis forced Horatio to stay in Chicago and he planned to join his family in Europe as soon as he could.
During the transatlantic journey, on November 22nd, the ship with his family onboard, the Ville du Havre, was struck by another ship and 226 people were killed in the tragedy, including all four of Horatio and Anna’s daughters.
Anna alone survived the disaster. Upon arrival on English soil, she sent a telegram to Horatio that read, “Saved alone.”
As Horatio traveled alone to England to join Anna, the captain of his ship pointed out to Horatio the location where his four daughters drowned. During that lonely transatlantic journey, Horatio penned most of the lyrics for the famous hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
We keep this simple phrase on the wall in our home as a reminder of God’s promise of peace.
As someone phrased it:
No God, No Peace.
Know God, Know Peace.
During the pandemic, this sign has frequently reminded me to stop and to acknowledge that God is still in control.
It is possible for us to deny the peace of God in our lives because of our thought patterns and choices. We still have a lot of influence in the way we practice, apply and accept the peace of God. Our aspiration is to make choices that line up with God’s guidance and to experience His peace and wellness.
The Prophet Isaiah shared a clear message from God: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:17-18).
May God gift each one of us with His peace and well-being during this uncertain season.
Click here for a beautiful and stirring modern version of this hymn: https://youtu.be/jcp6w4zaW7U