His Name Is: Jehovah Shalom

In 1871, Horatio Spafford was a 43-year-old wealthy lawyer, living on the north side of Chicago with his wife and five kids. He was a career-driven man, with lots of wealth and opportunity. Soon, however, his life began to change dramatically. That year, his only son died. Later that year in the Great Fire of Chicago, all of his real estate investments were lost; his entire life savings now gone. Two years later, he decided to take his family to Europe on a needed vacation. Delayed by a last-minute business matter, Horatio sent his wife and daughters ahead of him and promised to follow them in a few days. They boarded the S.S. Ville du Havre. On November 22, 1873 their ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel and it sank in twelve minutes, killing 226 people on board including all four of their daughters. When the survivors landed in London, Mrs. Spafford cable her husband saying "Saved alone. What shall I do?" Horatio immediately left for London to bring his wife home. On the return trip to the U.S., they neared the same place where the ship sank and their daughters drowned. Amazingly, Horatio wrote the words to the hymn we now know so well, "It Is Well.""When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." For some, this may seem insensible in the face of such horrific tragedy. Yet, peace is the promise of God for HIs children who live by faith in Him. In the midst of every circumstance and uncertainty, God can give us His perfect peace. In fact, we can know God is WITH us....and He Himself IS Jehovah Shalom, the Lord Our Peace. In every season, we can (and should) say: "God is still God....and God is still good." May we learn to worship & trust Him more as He is!