This incredible story of faith belongs to Horatio Spafford (1828-1888). Much like Job, he placed his trust in God during his life’s prosperity, but also during its calamities. He was a devout Christian who had immersed himself in Scripture. Many years of his life were joyous. He was a prominent Chicago lawyer, whose business was thriving. He owned several properties throughout the city. He and his beloved wife, Anna, had four beautiful daughters. Life was more than good — it was blessed.
But faith, no matter how great, does not spare us from adversity.
Spafford had known peaceful and happy days as a successful attorney in Chicago. He was an active member of a Presbyterian church, and a loyal friend and supporter of D. L. Moody and other evangelical leaders of his day.
The great Chicago fire of 1871 wiped out the family’s extensive real estate investments. When Mr. Moody and his music associate Ira Sankey left for Great Britain for an evangelistic campaign, Spafford decided to take his family to Europe to lift their spirits and also to assist in the meetings.
In November 1873, Spafford was detained by urgent business, but he sent his wife and four daughters as scheduled on the SS Ville du Havre, planning to join them soon. Halfway across the Atlantic, the ship was struck by an English vessel and sank in 12 minutes. All four of the Spafford daughters—Tanetta, Maggie, Annie and Bessie—were among the 226 who drowned. Mrs. Spafford was among the few who were miraculously saved.
Spafford booked passage on the next ship. It was while crossing the Atlantic that he penned the words to the hymn.
Spafford stood for hours on the deck of the ship that carried him to rejoin his sorrowing wife in Cardiff, Wales. When the ship passed the approximate place where his precious daughters had drowned, Spafford received sustaining comfort from God that enabled him to write, “When sorrows like sea billows roll . . . It is well with my soul.” What a picture of our hope!
Famous hymn composer, Philip Bliss (1838-1876), was so moved by Spafford’s prose, that he composed a peaceful tune to accompany the words. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey, in 1876.
After the sinking of the Ville du Havre, Anna gave birth to three more children. Another daughter, Bertha, was born in 1878. A son, Horatio, in 1880, though he later died of scarlet fever. After the birth of daughter Grace in 1881, Spafford and his wife moved to Jerusalem out of a deep interest in the Holy Land. They left the Presbyterian congregation Spafford had helped build and hosted prayer meetings in their home. Their Messianic sect was dubbed the “Overcomers” by the American press. They sought to promote the welfare of others, especially by donating money to good causes; generous and benevolent.
The Spaffords adopted a teenager, Jacob, who was born in Remallah into a Turkish family. As a schoolboy, Jacob discovered the Siloam inscription which records the construction of a tunnel, which has been dated to the 8th century BC. It is the only known ancient inscription from ancient Israel and Judah which commemorates a public construction work. It is among the oldest existing records of its kind written in Hebrew using the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet. The inscription is held by the Istanbul Archaeology Museum.
It’s incredible to think such encouraging and uplifting words were born from the depths of such unimaginable sorrow. It’s an example of truly inspiring faith and trust in the Lord. And it goes to show the power our God has to overcome even the darkest times of our earthly life.
Bibleref.com: This much-loved verse is quoted, printed, and repeated often, most especially the first half of this statement. This is also Paul’s grandest declaration yet about what exactly happens when someone is saved or justified by placing their faith in Christ. In a very real sense, Paul’s argument is that we become so closely attached to Him that we die with Him and He begins to live in us. Paul has been emphasizing that faith, and faith alone, is what saves us—adding any requirement of good deeds or rituals is contrary to the gospel . . . Christ was crucified for our sin. By faith, we trust that His death paid for our own personal sin. In that way, we are crucified with Him, our sin with Him on the cross. That sinful “us” dies, replaced by the resurrected Christ “in us.” We continue to live in the flesh, of course, but our lives are now directed not by our sinful selves but by our faith in Christ. For the first time, Paul mentions Jesus’ motive for giving Himself for us: love. Christ died for us because He loves us, unlike the unyielding system of the law, Christ is a Person motivated by His love and concern for us.”
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: Since we have already died to sin with Jesus, death no longer has dominion over us. The new man not only has life; he has eternal life . . . The new life we are granted isn't given so we can live unto ourselves. With the new life, he lives to God. We aren't dead to sin, free from sin, and given eternal life to live as we pleased, but to live to please God.
It’s incredible to think such encouraging and uplifting words were born from the depths of such unimaginable sorrow. It’s an example of truly inspiring faith and trust in the Lord. And it goes to show the power our God has to overcome even the darkest times of our earthly life.
