When It Doesn't Feel 'Well With My Soul.'

I would be willing to bet the leftover plate of food sitting next to me (that technically belongs to my dear husband) that each of you have heard  the old hymn It Is Well With My Soul. While I was getting dressed this morning a song by Bethel titled It Is Well began streaming through my phone's speakers. The Bethel song has a very similar feel to the familiar hymn, and if I am being honest with you, this morning I wasn't feeling it. I wasn't feeling that song because life didn't feel 'well with my soul.' Waking up this morning knowing we would face our first Thanksgiving without Pierce didn't feel well. It felt empty, sad, frustrating ... but certainly not well.

Because God has a sense of humor, or maybe because He knows exactly what we need, a line from the faith-filled hymn has stayed in my head all day ..
"Whatever my lot, 
Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul."

I began to wonder what the writer was facing when he penned those words. What He needed to convince himself was indeed well with his soul. Thanks to Google, what I found turned my whole day around.

It Is Well With My Soul was written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. Spafford wrote the song while on a boat to England to meet his wife, Anna, after he learned of some very devastating news. The family (who were good friends with D.L. Moody) planned a vacaction to Europe, but Spafford had to tie up some loose ends for a work deal, so he sent his family ahead of him. Except when he did make it, he wasn't welcomed by his girls with welcoming hugs .. instead he was faced with a grieving wife. He lost all four of his girls in a boat accident.

As I finished reading Spafford's biography, I found myself amazed by this man's faith. I don't know what I would be doing during a boat ride to England knowing that my children were dead, but I don't think I would be writing about how it was "well with my soul." But you know what friends, he had it right. My dad often says that we must be like David in some seasons of our lives by TELLING our souls to bless the Lord. Some days we have to convince ourselves that no matter what we face, our God is still a good, good Father. He is working out each moment of this life for our good and His glory.

Do I wish Pierce was here? Every single day. Does it feel 'well with my soul'? Not in every moment BUT I do know that God is good and sometimes we just have to choose to open our eyes wider to see His goodness.

Choose to see His goodness, friends. It's all around.

Happy Thanksgiving!