Today we are finishing up our series on the timeless message of some of the church’s best known and loved hymns. For those who might not have known these hymns, I hope hearing them and learning about their backstory has been helpful. What has struck me is how so many of these great songs have come out of great tragedy. Amazing Grace was written by a man who had once been far away from God and living a vile and violent life. A storm at sea turned his life around because he experienced God’s amazing grace. What a friend we have in Jesus was written by a man who lost two fiances on the eve of getting married and then was not able to see his mother before she died. When all his friends were taken away he realized that he still had a great friend in Jesus. And I’ll fly away was born out of hard work in the cotton fields, as well as patience and persistence in songwriting. When no one else thought Albert Brumley had any talent, he kept going and wrote the most recorded gospel song in history.
Today’s hymn was also born out of tragedy, in many ways it came from a life full of tragedy. Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago lawyer with a wife and 5 children. When their only son, Horatio Jr., was 5 years old he died of scarlet fever. A year later, the great Chicago fire swept through the city and destroyed many of the buildings that Spafford owned leading to substantial financial losses. His faith called him to give out of his reserves to help those in need so he joined with others in his church to assist those who were left devastated and homeless.
Two years later, Spafford decided to take his family on a vacation to Europe, so in November of 1872, his wife and 4 daughters set sail. Horatio was to go with them, but zoning issues in the rebuilding of Chicago kept him in town. He sent his family ahead and said he would follow them in a few days. On November 22, the steamship the Spafford family was travelling on was struck by an ironclad sailing ship. It sank in 12 minutes. 226 people died, including Spafford’s 4 daughters. Miraculously his wife, Ana, was found unconscious, floating on a piece of wood.
Ana was taken to Cardiff, Wales, where she sent a telegram to her husband saying, Saved alone. What shall I do? Horatio immediately set out for Wales and during that voyage the captain summoned him to the bridge and showed him the charts. He said, this is where the ship went down with your children. Some say it was at that moment Horatio began to write these words:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
What is it that allows someone to write these words, and hold this message in their heart, in the midst of such tragic loss and pain? What is it that causes someone to not run from God in tragedy but find comfort in God? It comes from knowing and trusting this powerful truth. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
That is what Horatio Spafford knew. God was close to him. God was there to save him, and his wife, and lead them through the storm to a place of peace.
There are times we all feel brokenhearted. The loss of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, the loss of a job or a dream are all moments when we feel brokenhearted and empty. When we suddenly realize that our future is simply not going to be what we had thought it would be - it is painful and unsettling.
There are also times we feel crushed in spirit. When the doctor doesn’t come back with the diagnosis we were hoping for, when covid-19 shuts down the schools, businesses, and all our family plans - we feel crushed. When suddenly our financial footing is no longer secure, it’s a crushing blow that knocks the wind out of us. We may not have lost our family in an accident, but there are times we all feel brokenhearted and crushed in spirit, and it is in those times we can say it is well with my soul if we will look up and remember that the Lord is near.
If we aren’t able to see or feel that God is close to us today, it might be that we are too focused on SELF. When we are only looking in the mirror, when we are only focused on our pain and our problems, it’s hard to get perspective and see that God is present. If looking at ourselves means thinking we can get through things alone and without the help of God, it might keep us from seeing God, and if being consumed with self means being consumed with our own sin or sense of shame and unworthiness, we might feel God can’t or won’t be with us. As long as we are looking at ourselves, we can’t be focused on God. God has promised to never leave us and to never forsake us, which means God is with us in triumph and tragedy. If we can lift up our eyes and look beyond SELF - we will slowly see that the Lord is near.
If we still aren’t able to feel that the Lord is close to us, it might be that we are too focused on the SITUATION. This was Peter’s problem when he saw that he was actually walking on the water. As long as Peter was focused on Jesus, he was able to get out of the boat and overcome the wind and waves, but once his eyes were off Jesus and he saw the predicament he was in - he was standing on the water - once he saw his situation - he began to sink. If we only focus on our problem, we miss seeing God’s presence.
God is close to the brokenhearted and those who are crushed in spirit and the more we shift our focus from ourselves, and our situations, the more we will be able to see that God is near. And it is knowing that God is near, and that His power and love are with us, that helps us say in difficult times, it is well with my soul.
In the midst of all that we have been going through these past few months, in the midst of what 2020 has turned into for all of us, let me ask you, Is it well with your soul? Are you experiencing peace in the storm? Comfort in sorrow? Hope in despair? Light in darkness? Courage in fear? Can you sing this with confidence?
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.
If it is not well with your soul today, I want to invite you to begin to make it well. Acknowledge the pain and the problems that you are going through today. I have heard a lot of people say recently that it is OK to not be OK. These are unprecedented times and we are all walking through unchartered territory. Nothing seems right or feels right so if you aren’t feeling OK - it’s OK. And it’s OK to share all that with God. Offer to God what is breaking your heart - chances are it is breaking God’s heart too. Offer to God what is crushing your spirit so he can begin to lift the burden from you. If you are just simply exhausted and don’t even know why - offer that to God as well. Jesus said, come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest.
Then Ask God to allow you to see how close He really is to you. In the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah was being chased by the enemy of Israel and one morning he and his servant found themselves surrounded. The servant was terrified and asked Elisha, what shall I do? “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17
When Ana sent her telegram to Horatio she asked the same question as Elijah’s servant. What shall we do? In moments of uncertainty, fear, and despair, when we can’t see a way forward we need to pray, God, open our eyes so that we can see that you are near. Maybe that is the prayer we all need to be praying today? God, open our eyes so that we can see that you are close to us and that you are here to help us and strengthen us and save us.
Once we can see that God is here to help us, we need to Accept God’s love and grace. Sometimes it really is that simple. Can we accept that God loves us so much that He gave his only son for us. Can we accept that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul. If God was willing to give his own son, then God is willing to give anything we need in love. The Apostle Paul said, If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32 (selected) In love, God gives us all we need to be at peace.
Once we have accepted God’s grace and begin to experience peace there is one more thing we can do to keep our soul’s well. We can Assist someone else in their time of need. Nothing helps us see the closeness of God than helping others in need. Ana’s telegram was simple, saved alone, what shall I do? Horatio jumped into action and assisted his distraught and grieving wife. He ran to her and when we are willing to run to those in need, not with our help and strength but God’s help and strength, we will see God more clearly ourselves. Sometimes it is only in being the hands and feet of Jesus that we actually begin to see that Jesus is with us.
If it is not well with your soul today, I invite you to begin to experience the peace of God’s presence. Acknowledge all that is holding you back, ask God to open your eyes so you can see that He is close to the brokenhearted, accept God’s grace fully, knowing that God gave Himself fully for you, and then assist someone else and begin to see more clearly the presence of Jesus. This is what helps us be able to sing with confidence...
And, Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound, and he Lord shall descend
Even so it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Next Steps
How Sweet the Sound - It Is Well with My Soul
Read through or listen to the hymn, It Is Well With My Soul.
Is this the song of your heart and life today? Is it well with your soul?
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 When have you experienced the closeness of God? How did it help you be at peace?
Focusing on both SELF and SITUATION can keep us from SEEING God. (See Matthew 14:22-33)
● In what ways might you need to shift your focus this week?
● What is one thing you can do to make this change of vision happen?
If it is not well with your soul, consider some of the following steps:
● Acknowledge the pain and problems you are experiencing. Offer to God the burdens you are carrying.
● Ask God to help you see that He is near. Pray: Open my eyes, Lord, so that I may see you at work in my life. (Read the story of Elijah in 2 Kings 6:8-23)
● Accept the grace God offers and allow God’s love to heal you and restore you. (Read Romans 8:31-39)
● Assist someone else in their pain and problems. When have you experienced being the hands and feet of Jesus? In what ways did this help you see Jesus more clearly in your own life?
