This is a story about Horatio G Spafford who was a successful lawyer and businessman in Chicago around the time of 1870's.
He had a wife Anna, and 5 beautiful children.
As most people do in life, the family knew pain and tragedy, and lost their son to pneumonia in 1871. It seemed that this year was not a good one for the family, as the family also lost most of the business that year in the great Chicago fire as well.
But as often happens, they were again blessed with success and the business was able to recover their losses.
On Nov. 21, 1873 there was a French ocean liner that was crossing the Atlantic from the US to Europe. Horatio was going to go on the ship with his family, but there was a business need that stopped him from joining his wife and 4 daughters on this trip to Europe. He was to follow on another ship a little later.
4 days into the trip, the wife and her 4 daughters and the rest of the 313 passengers met with tragedy. A solid steel hulled Scottish ship collided with the Ville du Harve and started to sink, putting l the lives on board in danger.
Anna and her 4 daughters Annie, Margaret Lee, Bessie and Tanetta said a prayer asking for protection, if it was His will, or to help them endure whatever their course was to be.
12 minutes later the ship sank, taking down with it 226 of the passenger, INCLUDING Annie, Margaret Lee, Bessie and Tanetta.
A sailor in a small boat happened to find Mrs Spafford on a piece of wreckage and saved her. 9 days later they landed in Cardiff, Wales. Distraught she sent a letter to her husband with the words “Saved alone, what shall I do?”.
Pastor Weiss, another of the surviving passengers, heard her previously say “God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand why.”
Mr Spafford took the next available ship to join his grieving wife, and when about 4 days into the journey, the captain of that boat told him that they were over the position where his children lost their lives.
It was then according to his daughter Bertha Spafford Vester that was born after the tragedy, that he penned this beautiful hymn that is still sung today.
Take a look at these inspired lyrics:
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.
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 hath 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 the 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.
Now, that you know the story behind the hymn, take a listen to this hymn and I ask you, can you listen without being moved?
"11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."
That "still small voice" that He speaks to us with, is far greater than tragedy and pain, and the world often tries to nullify it with the noise of business and life.....may we all find it, and recognize it through our lives. For surely we will each have tragedy and pain, and enjoy the same peace that comes from listening.
[Image and video credits Wikipedia, gistmania, Godupdates, Youtube]
[References www.staugistine.com]
luckily we never know what trials lie in the future. One day at a time... what courage their faith gave them to face terrible trials.
Bruv my epic contest is on why not put in an entry there?
The comment comp?
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