Horatio Spafford was prosperous until he lost most of his property to the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Undaunted he laboured on and made enough money to sail with his family to Europe for a vacation with friends. But business beckoned at the last hour and his family had to sail on ahead. In a tragic twist a vessel struck the ocean liner and sank it within minutes. His wife was rescued but their four daughters drowned. Assailed by grief, Horatio resolved to renounce God. On his way to meet his wife, he sailed over the very waters that took his daughters. Over their watery grave he wept. He wrestled with grief, with God. Until finally he emerged and penned the stirring words that would become one of the most beloved hymns of all time.
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.
Bad stuff happens to all. What counts is how we deal with it.
