Horatio G. Spafford was a Chicago based attorney in the early 1870’s. Mr. Spafford had spent his life practicing law and investing in real estate. The Spafford family appeared to be the epitome of success and future fortunes until a couple of catastrophes struck in 1871.
The first of the devastating events was a city-wide nightmare. The year 1871 brought the great Chicago fire. The fire started around 9 p.m. on October 8 of 1871 and burned nearly out of control until early on October 10. The fire most likely would have continue to burn the buildings built of extremely dry wood were it not for heavy rains that came upon the city on that day. It was estimated that 300 people were killed in the fire and that at least 100,000 people were left homeless. Mr. Spafford did not lose any family members in the fire, but he was heavily invested in many of the buildings that burned. As a result, the Spafford family lost a fortune and their lives were changed forever.
If that were not enough for them to deal with, around this same time the only boy in the family who was four at the time, came down with Scarlet fever. After the death of his son Mr. Spafford chose to drown his grief in his work. He gave all his time, energy, and emotion to the rebuilding of his beloved Chicago and to the help of the 100,000 people who had been left homeless.
By November of 1873 Mr. Spafford was ready to pull away from his work and spend some much-needed time with his wife and four daughters. The catastrophic events of 1871 had taken a toll on the family and to help them recover Mr. Spafford wanted to visit Europe. Prior to traveling around Europe they were to visit the Moody/Sankey revival meetings in England and revive their faith. Before they could leave New York for Europe Mr. Spafford had an urgent matter come up. As he did not want to keep the rest of his family from beginning their trip, he booked passage on the Ville du Havre for his wife and daughters.
In the early hours of November 22, 1873, the Ville du Havre collided with an iron sailing vessel and water began to pour into the ship. The water was icy cold and limited the chances of survival for the passengers. All in all there were 226 fatalities that night and among them were the four daughters of Mr. and Mrs Spafford. Upon arriving in England she wired her husband with the simple message “saved alone”. Upon receiving the message Mr. Spafford immediately booked his own travel to England that he might be able to be with his wife. As he sailed across the ocean, on a cold December night the captain called Mr. Spafford to come and join him. As they continued to sail, the Captain told Mr. Spafford that they were crossing the spot where the Ville du Havre had sunk. Mr. Spafford returned to his cabin but found it hard to sleep. It is recorded in those moments that he said, “It is well; the will of God be done”. Later he would write the words to “It Is Well with My Soul” as a more detailed expression of his thoughts.
In thinking upon Mr. Spafford it is hard for the mind not to race back to a man of old named Job. So often we think our lives are filled with despair and tribulation. It seems as though the Lord is testing our faith with all that we are dealing with and we become unsure of how we will continue on tomorrow. However, when we consider accounts of men such as Job and Mr. Spafford it truly seems as though all of our tribulations are frivolous. I cannot imagine the difficulty of facing tomorrow after losing all five of his children. Nothing I have had to face in life could possibly mirror that grief. What a beautiful expression of true faith is contained in this often sung hymn.
“Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, It is well, with my soul'”
I encourage you to meditate upon this line today. When you do, ask yourself this question; “Does this line truly express my approach to life?” Can you truly say that no matter what happens in your life that you feel the peace of God in your heart and are able to say that your faith stands secure? Can you say that today if your children were stripped away from you by catastrophic events that you would still have peace and faith within your heart and soul? I pray for each of us that these words would become more and more true in our lives each day that we live.
“My sin not in part, But the whole, Is nailed to the cross, And I bear it no more”
The remaining two verses of this song deal with our redemption and the coming of Christ in the time of the resurrection. We often speak of these events and though we mean to hold to them with the devoutness that we should we often forget just how great they are. I can only imagine though how much peace the thought of the coming resurrection was to someone like Mr. Spafford. He had lost all five of his children to death. Without a hope of the coming resurrection they were gone forever. But with a faith in God and his Son, Mr. Spafford knew that he would see his children again some day. Let us today look to the coming resurrection with the same hope and excitement that must have filled the Spaffords’ souls.
Trials and tribulations are going to come in this life. Some are greater than others, but each is unique to the person that must bear them. In each of these, let us remember that Christ has promised not to forsake us and that his peace is within our hearts. As such, let us say each day that the events that occur are well with my soul.
Blessings to you All!!
(Source: Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories by Robert J. Morgan)
(Great Chicago Fire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chicago_Fire)
Thoughts and Meditations of Elder J.W. Cunningham 