When you know the story behind the writing of a song it becomes more inspirational. But it is only when you have had a similar experience that you can grasp its full meaning. Such has been the case for me with the song, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
The story is told that Horatio G. Spafford had planned a vacation in Europe with his wife and daughters, but some last minute business kept him from sailing with them. He sent them on planning to follow in a few days. On November 22, 1873 their ship was struck by another and quickly sank. His wife was rescued, but his four daughters all perished.
On the voyage to join his wife in Europe he had the captain wake him when they were near the spot where his daughters had died. It was there in the loneliness of the night and his grief that he wrote, “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.”‘
His tremendous faith and acceptance of God’s will is a challenge for us to imitate. I saw a similar acceptance in my own 12 year-old daughter’s life as she lay dying from cancer. Kristin knew that she didn’t have very much longer and was struggling to accept her coming death. She had been angry and scared, but there came a point in those last few days where the peace of God came over her. She said to me on her last afternoon, “Dad, whatever God’s plan is, its okay.” A little different terminology, but it is the same faith that Spafford expressed in his hymn. Kristin showed that faith to the very last moment. She had no fear as she left us that night and she went with a smile on her face.
Now, in my grief, as I struggle to imitate her faith and acceptance I understand the last stanza of Spafford’s great hymn. He wrote, “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.”
There is a great longing in me for the second coming of our Lord because I look forward to being reunited with Kristin, just as Spafford wanted to be with his children again. Heaven has become more real to me, death holds no fear for me, and I look forward to the day of glad reunion. Maranatha. Come, 0 Lord!
- Steven G. Kay
