It is well

In the 19th Century, Horatio Spafford received what must have been the most chilling and devastating telegram from his wife – “Saved alone.” Caught in a shipwreck all four of his daughters had drowned, his wife alone surviving. Journeying to meet up with her, his ship sailed past the place where his daughters had perished. Yet in this time and place of grief he penned the words to very famous 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 hast taught me to know or say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Life is full of good days and bad days, triumphs and trials, highs and lows. So quickly the landscape of our days, our future can change. Life can throw a whole lot of unexpectedness at us. Unmet hopes and dreams grow dusty, unexpected detours in life blindside us, things happen that we can’t control. If our faith in God is determined by our circumstances we will find it to be as fickle as the wind, ever changing.

In the midst of our circumstances, whatever the outcome, our God is unchanging, constant and everlasting. Faith is about not letting an unexpected outcome shake our trust in God and negate all that God has already done and the blessings that surround us. Our faith becomes uncompromising as we trust in our Constant God. Our faith needs to be rooted in God and not in the ever changing circumstances of our days. When we settle our hearts to trust in God no matter what, hope grows, faith grows, peace comes.

I recently read this, “If you let your pain define your theology, you box yourself into a life without miracles.” (Lucas Gifford). No matter our circumstances we cannot let them change what we believe and know about God. That God is good, all the time. That His love for us is everlasting. That God is a God of miracles. And that a life with God always carries the promise of miracles.

Grand earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard

 And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
And through it all, through it all
It is well

And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
And it is well with me

 Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can’t see

And this mountain that’s in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

(Kristene Dimarco – It is Well)

“Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.” (Matthew 21:21)