Mark Sorensen 
The date was November 21, 1873, when the French ocean liner, Ville du Havre was crossing the Atlantic from the U.S. to Europe with 313 passengers on board. Among the passengers, were the family of Horatio Spafford, specifically his four daughters and wife. Horatio was a Chicago lawyer and businessman who, just two years prior, lost a son to pneumonia and, the same year, lost his business and many of his possessions in the great Chicago fire. Feeling like his family needed a break and a change of pace, he booked tickets for his wife and daughters to travel to Europe with the intent of leaving two days later to join them. Unfortunately, there was another tragedy to happen in his life.
Four days into crossing the Atlantic, the ocean liner struck another ship and, sadly, 226 passengers didn’t survive the tragedy. Among those who did? Horatio’s wife, Anna. Sadly, she was not able to save their four children. As she is pulled from the waters and eventually make it back to land, she telegraphed her husband with the words, “Saved alone, what shall I do?”
Horatio, heart broken and despondent, immediately booked a ticket and sailed out to meet his grieving wife. When the ship was four days out, the captain of the ship who knew of Mr. Spafford’s story, called Horatio on deck and showed him the spot where the tragedy had occurred on the sea (per Horatio’s request). Horatio pulled out paper and pencil, sat on the deck overlooking the sea and waters before him, and wrote the following familiar words:
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.
I have always been greatly impacted by the back story to the familiar hymn, “It Is Well”. Here’s what I am learning the older that I get: great faith sings in any and all seasons. I read a quote by Charles Spurgeon recently that went into my quote journal:
“Any man can sing in the day. When the cup is full, man draws inspiration from it. When wealth rolls in abundance around him, any man can praise the God who gives a plenteous harvest. The difficulty is for music to swell forth when no wind is stirring. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is skillful who sings when there is not a ray of light to read by — who sings from the heart… Lay me upon the bed of languishing, and how shall I then chant God’s high praises, unless He himself give me the song? No, it is not in man’s power to sing when all is adverse, unless and altar-coal shall tough his lip. Then, since our Maker gives ‘songs in the night’ (Job 35:10), let us wait upon Him for the music.”
Here’s the thing. No matter the season, our prayers have power when we stand in the midst of them and lift our eyes. Psalms 121 says, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains– where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” So to you, my friend, lift your eyes.
Perhaps there’s joy in your midst. Sing of the joy by lifting your eyes and giving God the glory. Or, perhaps the battle is great before you right now. Perhaps the grief is real and the hurt is deep. Remember, there’s still a song to sing. The good news? Whether it’s lament or laughter you’re experiencing, there’s a song and prayer found within it and, remember, God delights in hearing them all.
