Horatio Spafford was the successful lawyer and investor who authored the soul-touching hymn “It is Well With my Soul”. He had a huge share in the challenges of life.
The first was the death of his son at the age of two.
Thereafter, his property in the area of Chicago in, which he had invested significantly as a successful lawyer, was extensively damaged by the great fire.
His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873. At this time, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre.
The ship that conveyed his family sank rapidly while crossing the Atlantic after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn. All four of Spafford’s daughters died, just like the Biblical Job. His wife Anna survived and sent him a telegram: “Saved alone …”.
Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write the words of the hymn It Is Well With my Soul as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
Blind Bartimaeus
Blind Bartimaeus in the Holy Bible was importunate in his desire for the restoration of his sight. He persevered even when many charged him that he should hold his peace.
“And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, ‘Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.’ And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal (persevered), ‘Thou Son of David, have mercy on me”. — Mark 11:47,48.
Blind Bartimaeus didn’t give up because of stiff opposition, but rather pressed further for his request to be granted.
If you can also be determined and press forward in the face of daunting challenges, absolute frustration and even economic recession, you will surely succeed.
Keep Swimming!
You might be crying while you’re swimming, but keep swimming.
Your heart may be about to burst out of your chest, but keep swimming.
It is when you feel backed into a corner with nowhere to go that you have to reach down, take hold of what God has put within you and keep swimming.
Sometimes you have to rise up with faith and fight your way through, confident that God is on your side. The waters you’re in should not determine your destiny. They can either carry you over or take you under.
Your faith has got to rise and fight your fear. For winners, quitting is not an option. So whether you are doing the breast-stroke or any other style, you just have to keep swimming. God will see you through.
