Sermon Central
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Trust Series
Contributed by Randy Edwards on Jan 22, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: Learning to trust Jesus in all things
Corner posts of our Faith
“Trust”
Today once again we will visit our corner posts series
In this on-going series we have addressed and will continue to address
Corner posts of our faith
That is ----strong foundations – things we can build on
These are concepts that are critical to developing a maturing relationship with God
Today’s corner post
Is Trust
Trust that brings contentment
Contentment that can only come from trusting fully in God
Trust in all seasons
At all times
Trust in all circumstances
Often when life begins dealing me less than I wish it would
I seek comfort in God though music
And one song that always sooths my heart and speaks to my soul
Is the hymn “it is well with my soul
You know I can’t sing
So, let me read you the words of this song as a poem
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has 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 blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with 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!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trumpet shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, 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.
This is a beautiful and very moving song
But when we know the back story
It becomes even more moving
It Is Well with My Soul” was written in 1873 by Horatio G. Spafford.
Horatio was born October 20, 1828 in New York.
He grew up to become a very successful lawyer and business man in Chicago and was heavily invested in real estate.
He had a wonderful wife, Anna, and 5 children – 1 boy and 4 girls.
in 1871, at the height of his professional career, Horatio and Anna’s little boy died from pneumonia.
Later that same year, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost all of Horatio’s real estate investments.
In 1873, Horatio and his family planned a much-needed vacation to Europe.
Horatio’s good friends Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey were conducting an evangelistic tour in Great Britain and Horatio planned to help them while his family was visiting there.
Although he had planned to travel with his family, some unexpected business came up and Horatio had to stay behind in Chicago.
He sent his wife and four girls — ages 11, 9, 7 and 2 — on ahead.
Horatio would take another ship as soon as possible and join them in Europe.
A few days into their crossing of the Atlantic, their ship, the Ville du Harve, collided with an iron-hulled Scottish ship, the Loch Earn.
The Ville du Harve sank within 12 minutes, taking with it 226 of the passengers, including the 4 Spafford children – Tanetta, Bessie, Margaret Lee, and Annie.
Anna Spafford cabled her husband, “Saved alone. What shall I do?”
Horatio wanted to join his grieving wife Anna as soon as possible, so he booked passage on the next available ship.
While sailing across the Atlantic, the ship’s captain summoned Horatio to the bridge, and informed him that the ship was passing over the very spot where his children had perished.
It is recorded that while alone in his cabin that night, Horatio wrote the words to this now famous hymn.
Knowing his story
Now listen to the words
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.
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,
