It Is Well With My Soul

His wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!” “You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said. Job 1:20-21 HCSB

“It Is Well with My Soul” is a hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the 1871 Great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago which was decimated by the Great Fire). He had planned to travel to Europe with his family. In a late change of plans, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife, Anna, survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone . . .”. Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died. Spafford never lost his faith in God.

Similarly, in the aftermath of his loss and overwhelming sorrow, Job never lost his faith in God. Even his wife encouraged him to curse God and die. Job’s wife expected him to die if he cursed God and that would end his suffering. Sometimes when people are faced with great adversity, they wish that they were dead. Unwavering trust in God during times of suffering provides a testimony to the world of what real faith in God looks like.

Challenge: Put your trust in God even when difficulties come your way. God is in charge and knows what is best. He can take even the problems of life and bring good out of them. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. Listen to the hymn “It is Well with My Soul” on GodTube at http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FCM21CNU

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