"It is Well With My Soul" - the conclusion

And now, for the rest of the story...

Most people are familiar with the story behind the much-loved hymn "It Is Well With My Soul."  As has been told many times, Horatio Spafford, a successful Chicago lawyer was taking his wife and three daughters overseas for some much needed rest and relaxation.  At the last minute. business prevented him from going, so he sent his wife and children ahead, promising that he would follow as soon as he could. 

Spafford was a friend of D.L. Moody and supported his work and they were going to Europe because they knew Moody would be there that fall.  In the middle of the ocean, their ship, the Ville Du Havre, was rammed by another ship and quickly sunk.  All four of their daughters were lost and the wife was found unconscious floating on a piece of debris.  She was rescued, and upon reaching the other side, cabled back to her husband, "Saved Alone."

But what few know is that that is only the beginning of the heartaches suffered by the Spaffords and that their faith in Christ continued unwavering.

The reason they were taking the trip in 1873 was because of the great Chicago fire of 1871.  They lost a considerable fortune in real estate as a result of the fire and poured their lives into helping others through that difficult time.  Emotionally and physically drained, they were to set sail for rest when they lost their children.  They were beginning to rebuild their lives when they lost another son to pneumonia.  At that point, the church they had helped build removed them from membership believing that secret sin was to blame for God’s heavy hand upon them.

Having lost five children, their wealth, and now their church and friends, they decided to move to Jerusalem to begin life anew.  In Jerusalem they founded what became known as the American Colony.  It was a haven for Christians to come and live a simple Christian life, having all things in common, and to minister to those around them.  Their influence was responsible for Muslims and others turning to Christ in the forsaken city of Jerusalem of that day.

Spafford wrote many other hymns and treatises including a booklet entitled "Twenty Reasons for Believing the Coming of the Lord is Nigh."  Trusting in Christ carried the Spafford family through some of the darkest hours imaginable.  Through their suffering, they have joined a great crowd of witnesses who testify that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us.

"Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul."

By Brian Snyder (bksnider@gmail.com)

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