Have you heard the story of Horatio Spafford? You know the author of the song It is well with my soul? Well he was inspired to write this song in the late 19th century, when he received news that his family crossing the Atlantic from Chicago to England had been beset with tragedy.
All his children died as the boat went down, except his wife Anna who was spared. She telegrammed him just two words, Saved alone. Greif stricken they made their way back across the Atlantic to England, when as the ship came to the area that his family had drowned he was overcome with inspiration to write the song, now known as It is well.
When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
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
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
(It is well, by Horatio Spafford)
This year as we begin another season in our annual calendar, I have one question to ask you, is it well with you? How are you really? Not your assets, or your closet, or your pantry, but how are you? Are you ok? If Christ were to come back tonight would you be satisfied with where things were at in every aspect of your life. This question has been probably impressed upon my heart because I realize that our allotted time on earth will go by quite quickly, and before we know it we have lost opportunities to impact someone else for Christ.
Recently my mother passed from this life into heaven. It’s not been an easy journey for her over the last few years. But one thing I know is that she would say it was well with her soul. Leading up to the the last couple years she would reflect on heaven and indicate that her time is coming. Though we dismissed it then, now looking back we realize that God had prepared her for this time. Sitting with her in the last few moments, I realize now that it was well with this woman’s soul for the peace that surrounded her that night was indescribable.
Peace that not only comes from knowing that all our accounts are settled with God. But see many of us still have claims against God that haven’t been fulfilled. An unanswered prayer, a pain in our heart, broken promises, disappointments, failures, and the list goes on.
Paul encourages me greatly with the words he said in Philippians 3
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
How do I do that you may wonder, well put yourself in Mr. Spafford’s shoes, what would make thing well with you despite the death of your only children, four at once? Forget what happened yesterday, hold on to him today. Because Christ is our peace, our wholeness, our completion and shalom(according to Ephesians 2). So brother, sister, today Christ wants you to know his peace. Many of us in Christ take our eyes of him, and all of a
sudden the waves of life become more apparent than his loving gaze, whilst others of us have never really fully trusted him, but He says today is the day of deliverance, now is the acceptable time. This means today is a new day. A day to be well, to be free, and to truly say – it is well.
Pastor Olu Jegede