Today’s Verse—Psalm 30:5
Sobbing can remain through the night.
But joy comes in the morning.
Horatio Spafford had a happy life. He was married with five children, and he owned his own business in Chicago in the 1860s. He was also a man of faith. And he would need every ounce of that faith to get through what was about to happen.
First his four-year-old son died of scarlet fever. Later the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed everything in its path. Spafford lost his business and almost everything he owned. Then he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to England. He planned to meet them there later. The ship sank in a storm. Only his wife survived.
After the shipwreck, Spafford sailed to England to meet his wife. As Spafford’s ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean, the captain pointed out to Spafford where the ship that had carried his family had gone down. It was at this spot where Spafford wrote a hymn of praise to God.
What would lead a man to write a hymn of praise to God when such terrible things had happened to him? It was this: Spafford had faith that God was still in control. He believed with all his heart that God still loved him and wanted what was best for him. Spafford knew that his sorrow would end, especially on that day when he would go to heaven to spend eternity with his children.
Is there anything you’re going through right now that is making you doubt that God loves you? Bad things happen sometimes, and it’s difficult to understand what
Connie’s Corner
The week my grandmother died was one of the worst weeks of my life. I loved her, and it was really hard to say good-bye. She used to sing hymns to me when I was a little girl. Now I imagine her singing those hymns in heaven, with Jesus sitting right next to her. She must be so happy. I still miss her, but knowing she’s having such a good time makes it a little better.
God is doing. Talk to someone about it if you’re hurting. Pray for understanding and strength to get through the tragedy. And most important, pray for the faith of Horatio Spafford, who wrote the inspired 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 say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Daily Challenge
Listen to the Odyssey episode “It Is Well” (album 16) and hear the Horatio Spafford story for yourself. Then ask God to help you have the same faith Horatio had.
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Exercising Faith Theme Memory Verse—Hebrews 11:1
Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see.