It is Well with My Soul

Last week wasn't an easy one.  Almost two weeks ago, I was at a baby shower celebrating a friend's baby that would be here in late May.  It is her second and her first boy.   What a blessing!
Five days later, she held that little boy, stillborn, in her arms.  We went from celebrating and rejoicing to mourning and grieving with our friend.  It was very hard, and many of us had days of tears and sadness.

She and her husband have shown amazing strength in God throughout this trial.  They have been breathing in God's promises in scripture and leaning fully on God and the support He is sending through friends and family.  They are actually facing the grief with honesty AND praise to God for His comfort and peace through such an experience. 

As I traversed my own grief, which is nothing like the mom and dad's, I realize, I thought of the hymn "It is Well with My Soul."  This hymn was written by Horatio Spafford as he was crossing the Atlantic Ocean from America to England.  There is a story, though.

Horatio had sent his daughters and wife ahead of him to England while he did some business in America.  He had recently suffered some financial losses and trials, and he needed to stay and wrap up some loose ends.  The boat with his family was wrecked and sank, and his wife was the only survivor of his family.

As he suffered heavy grief, he went on a boat himself to join his grieving wife in England.  The boat on which he was a passenger stopped in the ocean for remembrance at the EXACT spot where his daughters were lost in the sea.  He was able to write the hymn right there as he poured out his heart to God and put his grief into an eternal perspective.

We too can learn from Horatio's example.  Though the world is falling apart at the seams, and sometimes it feels as if nothing is right, we can rejoice that our eternity is secure in Christ if we are Christians.  The trials of this world are intense, but they are temporary.  Praise God for the hope of our future in Heaven and His promise of comfort, peace and wisdom as we face the trials of this world.

Romans 8:18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

It is Well with My Soul

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. Refrain: 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. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 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. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.