IT IS WELL

“…It is well.” (II Kings 4:26)

In 1871, a great fire struck the city of Chicago, and the real estate holdings of a young man by the name of Horatio Spafford were all but destroyed. Mr. Spafford was a Christian lawyer and though much of what he owned was gone, he still maintained his faith in God. He knew that God was in control, and that The Lord loved him. Two years later, he and his wife decided to take their four young daughters to England to be educated. Most of the schools in Chicago had not yet been rebuilt and they weren’t of the quality of the schools overseas. Just before the boat was to leave, Mr. Spafford got called away on business, so he sent his wife and daughters ahead intending to join them on the next boat.


During the voyage, their ship collided with another ship and it sank to the bottom of the ocean. Unfortunately, most of the passengers aboard the ship died—to include Mr. Spafford’s four daughters. Thankfully, his wife was rescued from the seas and the telegram she sent to her husband simply read, “Saved, alone.” When Mr. Spafford received this message, the tragedy of the fire seemed nothing in comparison to what the telegram read. Money and burned buildings could be replaced but his children were gone!

But during these clouds of darkness and despair, he somehow remembered the Promise of God’s Presence. God would not forsake him in his trying hours, no matter what the circumstances. And with that thought on his mind, H. G. Spafford put on paper the lyrics:

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.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
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, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Verse 4 says:

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

When Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, inquired about the welfare of the Shunammite woman immediately after her son had expired, she simply replied, “…It is well.” (II Kings 4:26) Her response wasn’t one of denial, but one laced with the possibility that things would get better. Middle Tennessee and the surrounding area is being affected this morning by flooding like it has never seen. But in the midst of the chaos that’s going on in many a life, I exhort you to expect things to get better. It is well!

Let’s Pray:
“Father, thank You for things being as well as they are. Help us to be optimistic that things will get better, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10