It Is Well

This past week has been a terrible and confusing time in our country. Because Jeni and I have no TV, we have been spared seeing the mass of images being played over and over again in the media. I have heard of so many heart wrenching tales in New Orleans and know we are all shocked and deeply saddened by such a devastating tragedy.

Yesterday, I had a discussion with my junior English class about this. After class, one of my students came up to my desk and told me to be grateful I don't have a TV. She said she can't stop watching the news reports and it makes her so sad. I am sure you all feel the same way. We are all probably wondering what can we do from our remote locations. If it would help, I know many of us would fly across the country to be there and do anything we could- but no one really knows how to help right now.

In the midst of this, I know so many people are feeling despair. I read an article that was saying that we call natural disasters like this an "Act of God." It certainly doesn't portray our God in a very loving light that we attribute such a terrible thing to Him. But, yes, it is an act of God. There are many beautiful, wonderful, miraculous works of God that occur every day also, but this flood is what is happening right now.

As I was driving just now, my favorite hymn came on. It is called, "It Is Well" written by Horatio Spafford. It is a song with extremely powerful lyrics- the basic point of the song is that no matter what comes our way, our soul can be at peace because of Jesus. This kind of song is very easy to sing in times of blessing. When the sky is blue and shining and everything is just right, I know I can belt it out with the best of 'em- but in times of trials, it becomes something totally different. The story behind the writing of the song is an amazing one. Horatio lived in the 1800's in Chicago. He was very prosperous for a time and had five beautiful children. But when his son was four, he died of scarlet fever. Some years later, Horatio's wife and four daughters were sailing to England when the ship sunk. Horatio received a telegram from his wife the next day which read, "Saved alone." Only his wife survived, his four daughters drowned. Of five children, they now had none.

It is in the midst of this great tragedy that he wrote the song, "It Is Well." The lyrics read like this:

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

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh the joy, of this glorious thought
My sin, not the part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross
And I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord
Oh my soul

And Lord haste the day
When my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back like as a scroll
The trump shall resound and the
Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul.


No matter the sorrow Horatio was facing (and I would venture it was great), he was still able to find hope. As Christians, we know our only hope is in the Lord- we know it is well with our souls. We know that no matter what we face on this earth- we know it is a short time. And we know we will be spending an eternity with our loving heavenly Father in perfection. In a place so wonderful we cannot even imagine it. This is what caused Horatio to declare "it was well with his soul." Like Romans 8:18 says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" in heaven.

As Christians, we need to live with this heavenly perspective. Let us not be the ones who are despairing here on earth. We have hope in Christ Jesus. We should not be the ones who are glued to CNN, speaking ONLY of the tragedy. We need to be speaking to people of HOPE. SO many people know nothing about hope. Think about how grieved we are, but we know this life is not all we have. Imagine those around us whose only hope is in this world. What a frightful place to be. I pray we are the ones spreading messages of hope.

Can we offer answers to the questions of "Why?" Probably not. Should we not be sad? Absolutely not. We should be sad, it is beyond a terrible thing. But we should not be hopeless. These are two different things. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4, "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but notforsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." Friends, we are not destroyed- we have hope because Jesus Christ died on the cross to spare us eternal damnation. We will be spending eternity with Him in heaven, where no natural disasters invade and destroy. We have an inheritance that cannot be taken away. Our hope should not be in our earthly "things". That means our big houses, our fancy cars, our looks, our money, our prestigious jobs, our standing in the community.... none of these things are eternal. Yes, your eighty or so years here might seem "comfortable", but in the light of eternity, what is the value of any of this? We know our lives are but a vapor and pass so quickly. And, unfortunately, we can see how quickly these things can disappear. Our eyes need to be on Jesus in heaven: "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:1-2

It is in times of terrible tragedy that we need to be sharing our hope boldy with those who have none. It is because of God's love that we ourselves are free. It is because of God's love we should seek out the hurting and offer a shoulder to cry on.

If you are reading this and you are not a child of God, I want you to know how much He loves you. The maker of this entire universe created you. He knows you by name. He knows every hair on your head and He is waiting for you to come to Him. When I am speaking of peace, He is it. Being a Christian doesn't mean your life ends, it means your life will begin in an amazing way and it begins with and ends with God's love. I believe He appoints a time and place and He might be calling you right now to respond to His message of love. How do you become a believer? You simply tell God you know you are far from Him. Although you feel far from Him, He has always been and will always be right there next to you. A prayer that leads you to God doesn't need to go through man- its you and God. It can go something like this, "I come to you God in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. I now confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins and was raised from the . I confess I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I put my eternal soul into your hands. Jesus, please save me." Being a part of God's kingdom doesn't mean all your problems with disappear, but you can experience a peace in the midst of those problems like you've never known.

If you are coming to Jesus right now, there is an entire host of angels rejoicing over you right now. Welcome to the family!

For all of us (me included) I want to leave off on this note: Where is your life right now with the Lord? Can you say, as Horatio did, "Whatver my lot.... even so, it is well with my soul." If not, go to Jesus. Start with the truth that it is well with your soul and ask for God to show you His peace. He longs to work in and through you to spread His love to this hurting world.
May God bless you all, no matter the worldly circustance you are facing this day.