It is Well

"20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped."
Job 1:20 (NKJV)

What did this upright and blameless man do when he had lost everything?  He worshiped.  There were no cries of anger, hatred, or malice towards God as he prayed, “You give and take away, blessed be Your name.”   No tongue can tell the depths of sorrow that washed over his soul that day as he received word that his children had perished.  No father should have to bury his own child.  But it wasn’t just one child that he laid in the ground that day; it was all ten of his children.  However, Job knew that there was a God in heaven whose ways are not his ways and whose wisdom is greater than man can fathom.  Job didn’t worship because he felt like it, he worshiped because God is worthy of it.

Horatio Spafford had a similar experience.  He was a man who lived in the 1800’s and was a friend of the great evangelist, D.L. Moody.  The Chicago fire of 1871 had wiped out most of the family’s investments.  Spafford decided to take his family on a vacation to Europe to lift their spirits.  He sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him while he wrapped up a few business items.  Tragically, the ship carrying his precious family sank on its way to Europe.  His four daughters were numbered among the 226 that drowned.  As Mr. Spafford traveled to be joined with his sorrowing wife, it is said that he wrote the famous line to his hymn, “It is Well with My Soul”, near the spot where his children had perished that states, “…when sorrows like sea billows roll – whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well my soul.”

Faint not oh child of God for your Lord is greater still.  Not so much as a tear falls from your face without His knowledge.  He knows the depths of your pain like no one else and He cares for you. Don’t allow your circumstances, no matter how dire, hinder your worship to the Most High.

Anchored in Christ,
Aaron R. Force