April 12, 2024 – Truth #1: God Is In Complete Control
April 12, 2024 12:00 AM
Is it well?
In 1873, Horatio Spafford wrote the words of the beautiful hymn, “It is well with my soul.” The story behind the hymn is tragic. Spafford was a successful lawyer in Chicago. When the great Chicago fire destroyed the city, Spafford, like many others, suffered massive financial losses. Several years after the fire, with the city slowly recovering, Spafford decided to travel to Europe with his wife and four daughters for vacation. Because of some business issues, Spafford sent his wife Anna and their daughters ahead on the S.S. Ville du Havre, a ship bound for Wales. During the journey across the Atlantic, the ship sank and all of Spafford’s daughters died. When his wife arrived in Wales, two simple words contained in the message conveyed the tragedy to Spafford, “Saved alone.” When Spafford sailed to meet his wife, he wrote these words near the spot where his daughters had perished.
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.
How can somebody face tragedy and loss and then write such profoundly beautiful words? How can faith in God remain? How can anyone after such loss say, “It is well with my soul”? And mean it? How can you? It is only by accepting, believing, and trusting in the truth that there are no such things as accidents or coincidences. God is in complete control. His sovereignty conveys His ownership. Spafford’s daughters first and foremost belonged to God. This reality doesn’t erase sorrow, but it does sustain us through it. Bible Commentator William Barclay wrote, “Sorrow can do one of two things to us. It can make us hard, bitter, resentful, rebellious against God. Or, it can make us kinder, softer, more sympathetic. It can despoil us of our faith. Or, it can root faith ever deeper and more immovable. It all depends how we think of God.”
Truth #1 challenges us to acknowledge the reality of God’s sovereignty. By faith we believe that God is not absent, distant, or aloof. The Bible explains that God is ruling and reigning. So why would God sink a ship? He could have stopped it, so why didn’t He? That brings us face to face with Truth #2 – All things exist for God’s glory.
Prayer of confession and belief –
God, you are in complete control. As your servant Job prayed, so I pray too. You give and you take away, blessed be your name. Amen.
Psalm 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
Psalm 138:8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
2 Samuel 2:6-8 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.
In 1873, Horatio Spafford wrote the words of the beautiful hymn, “It is well with my soul.” The story behind the hymn is tragic. Spafford was a successful lawyer in Chicago. When the great Chicago fire destroyed the city, Spafford, like many others, suffered massive financial losses. Several years after the fire, with the city slowly recovering, Spafford decided to travel to Europe with his wife and four daughters for vacation. Because of some business issues, Spafford sent his wife Anna and their daughters ahead on the S.S. Ville du Havre, a ship bound for Wales. During the journey across the Atlantic, the ship sank and all of Spafford’s daughters died. When his wife arrived in Wales, two simple words contained in the message conveyed the tragedy to Spafford, “Saved alone.” When Spafford sailed to meet his wife, he wrote these words near the spot where his daughters had perished.
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.
How can somebody face tragedy and loss and then write such profoundly beautiful words? How can faith in God remain? How can anyone after such loss say, “It is well with my soul”? And mean it? How can you? It is only by accepting, believing, and trusting in the truth that there are no such things as accidents or coincidences. God is in complete control. His sovereignty conveys His ownership. Spafford’s daughters first and foremost belonged to God. This reality doesn’t erase sorrow, but it does sustain us through it. Bible Commentator William Barclay wrote, “Sorrow can do one of two things to us. It can make us hard, bitter, resentful, rebellious against God. Or, it can make us kinder, softer, more sympathetic. It can despoil us of our faith. Or, it can root faith ever deeper and more immovable. It all depends how we think of God.”
Truth #1 challenges us to acknowledge the reality of God’s sovereignty. By faith we believe that God is not absent, distant, or aloof. The Bible explains that God is ruling and reigning. So why would God sink a ship? He could have stopped it, so why didn’t He? That brings us face to face with Truth #2 – All things exist for God’s glory.
Prayer of confession and belief –
God, you are in complete control. As your servant Job prayed, so I pray too. You give and you take away, blessed be your name. Amen.
Psalm 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
Psalm 138:8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
2 Samuel 2:6-8 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.