As many of you know, I grew up the son of a Pastor. My dad once quipped when discussing meetings at the church that out of his five children, he had more meetings about me than the other four combined. The lock-ins, church camps, youth mission trips, etc. were fun and taught me a lot (including how to hide the trouble you were getting into a bit better), but one of the things I am most thankful for is the music in our church and our worship leaders. There were many times my dad would throw his sermon out, and we would spend the service in just worship. There were plenty of days he could have a lot to say, so these days were plenty welcome in a teenager’s life. Those that know me know how much I love all kinds of music. I am still so appreciative of those early days that gave me the appreciation for traditional hymns and what is called “contemporary Christian worship music,” and it certainly is influencing and helping me through this time as well.

I somewhat digressed in the above paragraph, but I was working toward the name Horatio Spafford. Horatio Spafford wrote the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul,” and like most hymns, they often contain amazing stories and backgrounds. I never knew the story behind this song until just a few years ago when I googled the hymn due to listening to Bethel Music’s “It Is Well.” What I found was an amazing story of tragedy, heartache, faith, and perseverance. So many times outside of hymns like Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, etc. we don’t dig into the stories behind the song and the words. Here’s a glimpse into one of those stories:

“This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first two were the death of his two-year-old son and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, 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. Bliss called his tune Ville du Havre, from the name of the stricken vessel.”

What kind of faith gives someone like Spafford the ability to sit down, while at sea, in his cabin on a ship close to where he lost his children and write:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know^a
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain
It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

This is King David’s faith. This is conquering faith. This is what I have been praying for this month. Our next round of scans is upon us, and lots of doubts and anxiety are flooding in prior. In my first post, I talked about the mind being a battlefield, and it has been a struggle for the better part of the last half of this month. At times my attitude toward others has reflected that which only serves to allow me to appreciate my wife and family that much more. But, here is the thing I am still learning, and this process still can teach me so much. In many ways I am in my cabin over a shipwreck and have to decide what my response will be. And I am not the only one. As you are reading this, it could be something to do with your job, a move, a child, etc. Your shipwreck is just as relative to you today as mine is to me, and as Horatio Spafford chose to sing “It is Well…” all those years ago, I hope that you can take inspiration in that today. And sing/pray that into your soul as you walk through whatever it is that you are going through.

Mark 11:23-24 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²³ Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.