It is well with my soul

‘Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) a successful lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago, had a wife, Anna, one son and four daughters; and lived a life of philanthropy and service in their church. In1871 they lost their four-year-old son to scarlet fever and a few months later the great Chicago fire wiped out most of their property holdings. In 1873, tragedy struck again. The Spaffords had planned to visit Europe as a family, but business kept Horatio behind. On the voyage, the ship Anna and their four daughters were traveling on struck another vessel and sank rapidly. Anna survived. She sent a hauntingly brief telegram to Horatio bearing the words “Saved alone.” Evidently on the way, their ship collided with another ship and sank in only 12 minutes. Anna has stood bravely on the deck with their daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being torn from her arms by the force of the waters. Anna was only saved from drowning by a plank, which floated beneath her unconscious body and propped her up. When rescued, Anna’s first reaction was despair; then she heard a voice speak “you were saved for a purpose”.

One can only imagine Spafford’s grief upon receiving the news. It must have been paralysing. But on his own voyage to meet Anna as his ship neared the place where his daughters had drowned, he was inspired to write the lyrics for hymn “It is Well with My Soul.” Unlike many heartbreak songs, it focuses less on what was lost and more on where hope can be found. No doubt Spafford was shattered by the loss of his daughters, but his heart turned to the faithfulness of God during loss, and the work of Jesus to rescue sinners. The hymn does not diminish or gloss over pain and tragedy but rather proclaims that God is present in them and greater than them.’

Although I had heard this story before, what struck me when I read it again recently was that Anna was saved by a plank that had floated under her unconscious body. It reminded me of how Jesus, our Lord and Friend, rescued me when I was drowning in despair all those years ago. How amazing that the plank lifted her, though she was unconscious and rescued her from death. We are saved for a purpose. Jesus rescues us.

What an awesome God we serve. In this world, sorrows come, and sometimes tragedies; but we have a Comforter, Holy Spirit. This is the One Jesus sent to us, and He strengthens us and brings hope to our souls.

Shalom

Kath