Is It Well?

Horatio Spafford was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. His circle of friends included Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day.

At the very height of his financial and professional success, Horatio and his wife Anna suffered the tragic loss of their only child, their son. Shortly thereafter on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost every real estate investment that Spafford had.

In 1873, Spafford scheduled a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much needed vacation and time to recover from the tragedy. He also was going to join Moody and Sankey on an evangelistic campaign in England. But due to some unexpected last business plans, he had to send his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of this. While his wife and 4 daughters were on the SS Ville du Havre, an iron sailing vessel collided with them, sinking it. 226 people were killed, including Spafford’s 4 daughters. His wife managed to survive the wreck however, and when she reached Europe, she sent a telegram to Horatio saying “Saved alone. What shall I do?”

Immediately, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his grieving Anna in England. While he was on the boat on the way over to Europe, the captain of the ship told Horatio that they were approaching the spot where the wreck took place and where his daughters were killed. It was at this spot where Horatio penned those now famous words, “It is Well With my Soul.”

The Spaffords went on to live in Jerusalem and minister to many families there. In

2 Kings 4, we see a similar story. The Shunammite woman had just had a son. One day he was out with his father in the field working, and he fell. He said unto his father, My head, my head. His father commanded that he be taken to his mother. When he was with his mother, she held him until noon, and then he died.
(2 Kings 4:18-20).

The Shunammite woman laid the boy on the man of God’s bed, and went to go find Elisha. On her way out, she was met by her husband, And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

(2 Kings 4:23). What faith this mother had. I cannot even fathom having my own son die in my arms, and she has the faith to tell her husband, it shall be well.

Elisha saw her coming to him from a far off and sent his servant to go and meet her. He said,
2Kings 4:26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, The woman simply responded with... It is well.

Here we see this incredible faith put into action. Her son had just died, and when she is asked by Elisha’s servant if everything is well, she is able to answer... It is well. I wonder if we are able to say “It is well” with everything that goes on in our lives... When the finances are tight? When we lose a loved one? When we mess up in our lives? Are you able to say “It is well?” Take this as a challenge this week and strive to have the faith that the Shunammite woman had and no matter how tough things may get, remember that God is still in control...and It is well!