Whatever My Lot
Horatio Spafford was a nineteenth-century lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago. He and his wife Anna passed their financial success on to thousands of people in need. Their incredible generosity was motivated by their love for Jesus and deep convictions of faith. God also blessed Horatio and Anna with 5 children (1 son and 4 daughters) whom they taught to love God and others with genuine hearts.
In 1871, Horatio and Anna faced great heartache and loss. During that year, their four-year-old son was lost to scarlet fever and then most of their properties were destroyed by the historical Chicago fire. Unfortunately, the pain these two would face was not over. Two years later, Anna and the girls were traveling by ship to Europe. A terrible accident caused their ship to sink and only Anna survived. She was able to get a brief telegraph to Horatio that simply and painfully stated, “Saved alone.”
From within his deep pain, Horatio penned the words of the hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul,” while on a ship traveling to be with his beloved and heartbroken Anna. Perhaps the most poignant and difficult lyrics of that powerful hymn are, “Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well with my soul.” How? How could it possibly be well with his soul? The answer is the heart of the remaining lyrics:
“Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blessed assurance control. That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul. 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.”
The gospel is our strength. The gospel is our hope. The gospel is the answer. I pray that you and I can have the faith, boldness, and humility to stare down the trials of life and loudly proclaim, “Whatever my lot, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!” Life can hurt, but remember Jesus and live.
Before your feet hit the floor;
Remember Jesus.
Before you walk out the door;
Remember Jesus.
Before the first person you greet.
Before the first struggle that you meet;
Remember Jesus.
When your self-control is tested.
When your ideas are contested;
Remember Jesus.
Before you respond to an offense;
Remember Jesus.
Before you give your opinion a defense;
Remember Jesus.
Before you walk away from a need;
Remember Jesus.
Before any action, thought, or deed;
Remember Jesus.
When you put your money in the bank.
When sin is the cup from which you drank;
Remember Jesus
Before you decide which road to take.
Before you determine which choice to make;
Remember Jesus.
Before you slide into bed.
As your pillow greets your head;
REMEMBER JESUS.
Praiseallujiah!
Jon
