Two-minute read.
From generation to generation, people continue to witness God’s acts of love. Recently, I discovered Sean of the South, a columnist who writes and sings about life in the American South.[1] Scrolling through his posts, you will discover tales from years gone by of heroism and faith that touch the heart. On Thanksgiving, I shared his post about a Methodist hymn, sung by four chaplains as their ship sank in 1943. The post that led me to his work centered around one of my favorite hymns, “It Is Well With My Soul,” by Horatio Spafford.
Sean sets the scene, describing Horatio’s wife, Anna, and their four daughters, bound for a mission trip to Europe to participate in revivals. A few days into their journey, another boat strikes the ship, causing it to sink. People jumped overboard into the water. Anna and her girls knelt by the bow and prayed for God to deliver them or give them the strength to endure what came next. The next morning, a sailor in a dinghy saw Anna clinging to a piece of wreckage, barely alive, rescuing her and taking her to Wales, where she sent a telegram to Horatio:
“Saved alone.”
Their daughters did not survive the shipwreck. Horatio boards another boat to meet Anna and comfort her. Midway through the journey, a shipmate knocked on his door to inform him that they were passing the place where his daughters drowned. Weeping over the memory of his four girls, he wrote a poem that became a cherished hymn.[2]
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.
Despite his profound heartache, Horatio focused his eyes on Jesus and allowed Him to comfort his broken heart. God’s love prevails, no matter the circumstances, passing through the generations and continuing into eternity. We must keep the Son in our eyes to experience His divine presence. When we do, like Horatio, we can say, “It is well with my soul.”
Journal Questions:
How does Horatio’s faith inspire you?
In what ways have you seen God’s love in your life?
Describe how Jesus makes your soul well.
Joyful Application:
Discover the joy of faith in Jesus as you focus your eyes on Him.
[1] https://www.facebook.com/seanofthesouth
[2] https://www.facebook.com/reel/2024993515000656
