I was recently reminded of this song ‘It is Well’ by Bethel Worship while attending the funeral for a very dear friend and mentor. I like to think it was his way, one last time, of encouraging me. The song is a revamped version of the old Hymn ‘It is Well with My Soul’. I have had a particularly difficult end to my year and nothing is what I thought it would be this time last year. I’ve had hopes and dream shattered, wondering at times where God is in everything. And even though it has been so incredibly hard, I have kept my eyes on God. Honestly, wavering at times but still believing he has the best in store for me despite my circumstance. I actually wrote this next part as part of a blog entry in 2014 for a combined blog I was writing for women at the church I was attending at the time. My own words spoke to me 4 years later as I re-read it after being reminded of this song. I thought I would share it and hope it would be an encouragement to someone else.
The lyrics to the song are;
Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
It is well with me
Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can’t see
And this mountain that’s in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea
So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
The original Hymn was written by a man called Horatio Spafford. In 1870 his only son was stuck down with Scarlet Fever and died. The 1871 ‘Great Chicago Fire’ destroyed most of his properties leaving him financially ruined; his business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873. Due to the hardship he and his wife decided to travel to Europe with his family via ship. He was delayed on business and so sent the family without him. The ship collided with another vessel and sank. All four of Horatio’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him a telegram, “Saved alone …”. As Horatio travelled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died. Isn’t that unfathomable that you are sitting in the place of your greatest pain, where four of your children have just perished, and you write the words ‘It is well with my soul’, what an impossible faith. Every time I picture that moment in my head I am filled with an awe and a longing to have a faith as strong as Horatio’s. Horatio and his wife went on to have 3 more children and worked with the poor in Jerusalem.
We need to understand God’s love for us is so great that he cares about our pain, he counts every one of our tears. ‘You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.’- Psalm 56 v 8 (The Message). Doesn’t that thought overwhelm you with love and hope? Through every circumstance God sees all, he knows all and we need to trust and find peace that He, in his perfect love, is in control of every circumstance- no matter how hard that might be.
I’m not saying this is easy, man have I struggled with it. I’m just glad I have had friends (even from heaven & even myself from 4 years ago) reminding me of who I am and that I have someone bigger than me and bigger than my circumstance looking out for me, holding my future in his hands. I know I have not been as gracious as Horatio in my darkest of moments. I think that’s ok too. But I have felt overwhelmingly loved and for that I am grateful. When I heard this song, and as the lyrics ‘So let go my soul and trust in Him. The waves and wind still know his name’ washed over me, I still felt pain, but a peace also started to edge it’s way in for the first time. Hope this encouraged someone. xoxo
Just a little JoJo 
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