The Victorious Christian Life (1)

"And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith" (1 John 5:4).

We all know what it is to have bad days and unfortunate moments in our life. However, few of us will ever have to face anything worse than the series of tragedies that occurred in the past to a Christian couple in Chicago... Horatio, age 43, and his wife, Anna, age 29. 

Horatio was a successful businessman and church elder when an unexpected illness brought the death of his 4 year old little boy, Horatio Jr. And before he and Anna could even recover from the grief of this loss, another sudden tragedy occurred... a devastating fire that destroyed Horatio's business and financial interests. The family literally lost everything they owned and had to start over.

Then less than two years later, while planning a trip abroad with his wife and four daughters, Horatio was delayed and he sent his family on ahead by ship... only to learn a short time later that the vessel collided with another in the Atlantic and sank. His wife was one of only twenty-seven out of several hundred passengers who survived... while all four daughters drowned.

I cannot imagine the devastating loss and grief that these parents endured over this short period. It's a sad and painful thing to even recount this true story and think of the unimaginable grief they bore. However, despite this catastrophe, they both remained steadfast, clinging to their faith in God. 

As Horatio made the long ocean journey to meet his surviving wife, he sailed past the site of his daughters watery graves. As he did, his grief was overcome with a greater sense of peace and victory in his soul, and was inspired to pen the words to what became a famous hymn of the church. Below is the first stanza from Horatio Spafford's hymn in 1873:

               

                    It Is Well with My Soul

            

            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.

This grieving father was able to attest of a wellness in his soul, not because of the tragic circumstances, but from his greater abiding trust and confidence in God.