it is well

picture:  pond in front of my childhood home

We are home in Louisiana!
What bliss, what warmth, what sweltering heat!
I will save you the details of our long 26 hour trip with three young uns through driving rain, sleet, and snow.
I am sure your imagination will be more than sufficient.

The first thing I did once we got home was schedule my doctor's appointment.
Worry started to creep in and I had to continually give my fears to the only One who could give me peace.  At the back of my mind, I kept thinking "what ifs".  What if... God decided to take this baby home to be with Him too?  What if... something was wrong and that was why I couldn't feel the baby move?  I realized I had to choose to lay it at Jesus' feet.  I had to choose to trust Him no matter what the outcome would be.

That's when my friend Lisa told me the powerful story behind the well known hymn "It is Well With My Soul".  The author, Horatio Spafford, wrote this hymn after he experienced great personal tragedy and loss.  His wife and his four daughters were involved in an accident at sea and his wife was the only survivor.  I can't imagine the pain and sorrow this couple felt after losing all of their children in such a violent way.  The story is told, though, that in the midst of her despair, Horatio's wife heard God tell her she was spared for a purpose.  It was in that moment she remembered the wise counsel of a friend, "It's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God." (go here for the story)  Later, Horatio visited the watery grave of his daughters and wrote this hymn as his ship sailed by.

It is Well With My Soul

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
2. 
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   It is well, with my soul,
   Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
   
   
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

He chose to praise God no matter what.

Oh Lord, give me faith like that!

To fix my eyes on You, Lord, and know that all is well with my soul.