Friday, December 14, 2012

Troubled World but A Peaceful Soul

The tragic news of the school shooting and the terrible loss of lives stirs questions of why and how can there be so much evil in the world?  Today I attended the funeral of a 66 year old church member.  Just last night I got word a lady was killed in an auto accident, I just spoke at a company Christmas party she attended last Friday.  Death and suffering are all around us.  Tragic events lead the news programs daily.  All of this serves to remind us that this life is short.  This world is fallen. Sin, sickness and sorrow have cursed this world since the Fall.  So how do we make sense of it all?  Tragedies right before Christmas?  School shootings?  Horatio Spafford was no stranger to pain or the loss of loved ones.  He lost one son to Scarlet Fever.  He lost his wealth and possessions in the Chicago fire.  In one tragic ship wreck he lost four daughters.  He is the writer of the great hymn, "It is Well With My Soul".  He understood our anchor in this troubled world is Christ Jesus!  He is our Peace in the midst of suffering and tragedy.

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.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, 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.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with 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!

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

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.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

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