19

I have exactly an hour more to be 18. Weird. Birthdays are strange things. This year seems to have flown by. I don't feel like im 19.... Well i dont feel like i should be old enough to be in college yet but oh well.... This is the end. Im feeling neither poetic nor romantic at the moment. But i thought i would reflect one last time on before i age a year and become old and decrepid.

It is well with my soul.

Ever since i was 13 The hymn "It is well with my soul" has been one of my favorites.There are two reasons that it is a favorite of mine. 1. The beautiful and incredibly meaningful lyrics. 2. The amazing story behind the song.
Horatio G Spafford, his wife and their five children all lived in Chicago in 1860. Horatio was a wealthy lawyer who owned much land. In 1870 Their youngest son died of Scarlet fever. In 1871 The spaffords suffered a great loss in the Great Chicago fire which destroyed much of their property. Even though they had lost a huge amount of their money the Spaffords did not despair. In 1873 Anna's health was failing and so the family planed a trip to Europe. They were all supposed to sail on a French ship but Horatio was required to stay home for a few days because of a business emergency. Anna and their 4 daughters went ahead of Horatio. Their ship was struck by an iron sailing ship and in 12 minuets the ship was sunk in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. Only 81 out of 307 people survived. The only member of the Spafford family to survive was Anna. All 4 girls had drowned. When she reached land Anna wrote her husband to come to England. It was as his ship passed over the area that his daughters drowned that Horatio wrote the lyrics to It is Well with my soul.

It amazes me that even though he was in immense pain and suffering that Horatio was able to write such wonderful lyrics. That show even through grief beyond all measure Christ is there for us. Which is a comfort beyond all comforts.

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.

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.

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!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of 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.

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit

Psalm 46:1-2
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
Psalm 71:20-21
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.