It Is Well…

I was asked, during an “Ask a Pastor” Sunday; “What is your favorite hymn and why?” I did not have time to answer that during that worship service. So, I thought I would take another Sunday and dive in to the original meaning, as well as what it means to me. I hope you enjoy the story, and if you want to hear the entire sermon, complete with my singing of this hymn, go to our website lanarkumc.com and you will find the link to the YouTube video of the message. Here is an excerpt from that message…

Horatio Spafford was a good business man, he was successful lawyer, real estate manager, and a devout Christian. Horatio knew the scriptures and had a wonderful relationship with a very well-known evangelical leader in D.L. Moody. He and his wife had 5 kids up to this point, one son and four daughters. His son died of scarlet fever at the age of 4, leaving him with the four daughters.

Everything was going well for Horatio. Besides his successful business and legal practice, he was becoming very wealthy through extensive real estate acquisitions on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Things were very well with Horatio. But then things started to unravel. In 1871, the great fire in Chicago devastated much of his properties, leading to more time at the office, working all hours of the day.

By 1873, he was looking for some rest for his family and himself. So, he booked a trip to Europe for relaxation and maybe some bonding time with his family. The trip was to take place in November. Just before the departure, something at the office came up that Horatio could not ignore. He told his wife and four daughters to go on ahead of him and that he would catch up with them during the trip.

I’m sure that went over well. He books this trip to rest with his family and then something comes up preventing all the family time. I’m sure many of us have experienced that at some point in our lives. Well, Mrs. Spafford goes ahead with the plans and begins the trip across the Atlantic Ocean.

The majestic S.S. Ville du Havre begins sailing to Europe. I can only assume that everything was going well. Meals were probably gourmet, shuffleboard on the main deck, and the views of the sunrises and sunsets; as beautiful as anything they had ever seen. Then, tragedy strikes. On November 22, 1873, the S.S. Ville du Havre is struck by the Lochearn, an English vessel. The accident was catastrophic. There was no doubt that it was going down. In fact, the ship sank in 12 minutes. Not much time to launch rescue boats, get all the floatation devices out. All four of Horatio’s daughters perished in the accident. Mrs. Spafford, however, survived.

She sent a cable back to Horatio. For all you younger ones out there, this would be the first form of snapchat, the first tweet. Except this required two trained people, one of the transmitting side and the other on the receiving end to translate. Then the message was hand delivered to Horatio. Two words was all it said; “Saved Alone.”

Not only had Horatio lost his son to scarlet fever, just about all his property and money during the great Chicago fire, but now he has lost his remaining children to sea. What else could go wrong, what else was going to come his way. I’m sure that he felt like Job, as he was losing everything in his life. What depths of despair he must have been feeling?

Horatio departed on the next ship he could find, headed to Cardiff, Wales, where his wife was. Could you imagine the thoughts and feeling he must have had on that journey across the same ocean that claimed his daughter’s life only a few days before? The anger, frustration, and despair as day after day, he looked out over the water. The same water that God’s Spirit hovered over during creation. The same water that offers life to so many, but now has taken four lives that meant so much to him. Why God? Why me? Why now? I’ve been so good. I’ve followed you, read the scriptures, worshiped you. Why God?

It is thought, that at the very moment he was traveling over that part of the Atlantic that stole his daughter’s lives away from him, that he wrote these famous words:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.