Faith walk: Peace
Horatio Spafford was a 43 year old lawyer who lived in Chicago in a suburb on the north side of the city. He was married to Anna and they had five children – one son and four daughters.
In 1871 …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
Attention subscribers
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continueDon't have an ID?Print subscribersIf you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Non-subscribersClick here to see your options for subscribing. Single day passYou also have the option of purchasing 24 hours of access, for $1.00. Click here to purchase a single day pass. |
Faith walk: Peace
Horatio Spafford was a 43 year old lawyer who lived in Chicago in a suburb on the north side of the city. He was married to Anna and they had five children – one son and four daughters.
In 1871 his only son died at four years old. Later that same year the city was consumed by the great Chicago fire. Horatio Spafford’s real estate investments were lost and suddenly his entire life savings were gone. Two years later the Spafford family took a vacation in Europe. Horatio was delayed by business but his wife and four daughters sailed for their vacation on the S. S. Ville du Havre. Horatio planned to join his family in a few days.
Their ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel on November 22, 1873. The S.S. Ville du Havre sank in twelve minutes and 226 lives were lost. Among those who died were the four daughters of Horatio Spafford. When Anna Spafford arrived in Europe she cabled her husband the message: “Saved alone. What shall I do?”
Spafford immediately left Chicago to join his wife and bring her home. On his way to meet his wife, while sailing near the place where his daughters died, in the depths of his sorrow, he wrote the words to the hymn “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.
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.
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.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Horatio and Anna Spafford moved to Jerusalem in 1881 to serve the needs of the people there. They ministered Christ to poor Arabs and Jews bringing compassion to others from the depths of their own suffering and sorrow.
www.faclay.com
Write the Pastor at PastorBill@firstagcc.org
get social