It Is Well...

Guiding Prayer For Our Season of Fasting: 

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom,the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Myself in Truth

Father in Heaven, may I always remember to wake each day ready to declare your praise.  Thank you for your grace and your love that are never ending.

 

Nurtured and Nurturing

 Jesus Christ, Son of God, lead our families and our daily interactions with your world to be beacons of your light, glorifying you in all we do.

The Gathered

Holy Spirit, God-head three in one, only you are worthy of the praise of your people.  Lead us to your altar so that together, our community of faith my bear witness to your goodness.

Horatio Spafford was an aspiring businessman in the late 1800's.  He was a gifted young lawyer and budding real estate guru.  He was on the quick path to greatness until the unthinkable happened.  In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire which decimated much of the city claimed much of Horatio's real estate leaving him in financial ruin.

In the midst of this crisis and the financial crisis of 1873, he, his wife, and their four daughters had plans to visit Europe.  Because of the economic hardships and his need to attempt to salvage his business, Horatio sent his daughters and wife on ahead with plans to join them a few weeks later.

The ship carrying his family never reached Europe.  It stuck another sea vessel on the way over and sank.  His wife would be the only one to survive.  All four of his daughters went down with the ship.

You could only begin to imagine his heartache.  He eventually got on an ocean liner and made his way to Europe later that summer.  As he was passing the place where his daughters lost their lives in that tragic accident, Horatio sat down to write...

"When peace like a river, attendeth my ways,

when sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with me soul."

Unspeakable words of joy in the midst of unbearable heartache.  How could a man who just lost his daughters in a horrific accident begin to pen such meaningful words through which many of us draw great comfort today?

These words could only come from one who understands our ultimate hope comes from God.  Through this hope we can always find a reason to give God praise.  This does not mean we understand pain any more than the next person.  It does not mean we can now explain away tragedy and heartbreak.

It simply means that no matter what we encounter in life, God is there.  And because of his presence in our lives, we have something worth giving thanks for.  As we reach the conclusion to this season of giving of ourselves, may we find reason to give God glory and honor and praise for the grace and hope we have in him because of his Son.