One of the greatest hymns of all time is “It is Well with My Soul.” This powerful song was written by a Christian lawyer and real-estate investor from Chicago named Horatio Spafford. He and his wife experienced all sorts of horrendous trauma. First, their youngest of four, their only son, died from illness at the age of four. The Great Chicago fire destroyed everything they had, and so they planned to move to Europe. Horatio’s wife and three daughters set sail ahead of him, while he stayed back to get some things in order. However, during that Atlantic voyage, their boat collided with another and sank rapidly, killing all three of the Spaffords’ daughters. His wife, who survived, made it to Europe and sent a telegram to her husband Horatio with these infamous words – “saved alone.”

Horatio boarded a ship and headed to Europe to grieve with his wife, and as his ship crossed the area where his daughters were lost at sea, he penned these words – “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.”

We still sing that song in our corporate worship services today, even though it is a song born out of horrific sorrow. A misconception about what it means to worship is that we must be happy to worship. Horatio Spafford’s song was a song of lament, a song of surrender, but it was also a song of joy.

How? Happiness and joy are two very different concepts. Happiness is a temporary emotion. Joy is a quality. There are times when I’m not happy because of how I feel or the circumstances going on around me. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The command to rejoice is a call to be joyful. It is a resting in knowing whose you are, not what you’re going through. You have an eternal hold on you by a Living and Everlasting God. You can rest in His arms. Being joyful is a sign of trusting. It’s as Job said in Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, still will I trust him.”

We can take a cue from David. Some of the most powerful Psalms were born out of frustration, fear, and sorrow. What makes them joyful and wonderful is that he knew who is daddy was. The fact that he brought iit up to the Lord to begin with shows his reliance and trust on His heavenly Father.

Today, I want you to give it to God. Whatever you’re dealing with, let your Heavenly Father know. Talk to Him about it. Are you frustrated about something at work, something at home, is a relationship worrying you, or do you have great happiness? Share it with the Lord. Talk to Him about it. Rest in the joy of your Everlasting God.

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