Sunday, January 31, 2021

Why Even So?

 

Someone asked why I called this blog Even So. It comes from a line in one of my favorite songs; It is Well With my Soul. The writer of the song, Horatio Spafford, was successful in every material way. He had a successful business and a wonderful family with five children. Tragically, he lost his business in the Chicago fire the same year his young son died. Later his wife and four daughters were crossing the Atlantic on a steamship when it sank; all four girls drowned. He caught the next ship to join his wife, and he penned the song as he passed the place where his children died.

It would have been so easy for them to give up. To be angry with God. To wonder why this tragedy had to strike their family. But they never lost faith; they never forgot God and His mercy.

After making bad choices, or tragedy strikes, it is easy to shake my fist and shout at God. It is simple to wallow in self-pity and ask why me? The only thing that stopped me from continuing to sink into the depths of depression was knowing that Even so, God was there.

I do not pretend to have the answers or explanations for why things happen the way they do; I know that even though trials will come into my life, I can confidently say: Even so, it is well with my soul.

The confidence to say, “Even so” cannot come from within a person. I learned I cannot will myself to have peace like the river. I cannot change the tragic happenings in my life. They are there; they are done. Colossians 3:25 tells us that we will receive the consequences of the actions we have done.

I can wallow in the tragedy, or I can learn to have peace.

I can lash out at whoever is nearest to me, or I can learn to have peace.

I can crawl into myself and revel in the darkness, or I can learn to have peace.

I can moan and have a long pity party, or I can learn to have peace.

I could not bear what my tragedy had done to my peace. My idyllic life had been shaken to the core. It was months before I could sing the song again, longer before I could sing it without tears. I was adrift on the sea, with no life raft. I had one constant, One who never left me or abandoned me. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, "And the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.” I clung to that verse and chose to believe God has a plan, and He would not leave me.

The Spafford’s went on to rebuild their family, having three more children. I am putting the pieces of my life back together, and along with the hymn writer, I have begun to believe:

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say; It is well with my soul.

1 comment:

  1. So THIS is the start of your memoirs from Paradise Lake. Interesting how the sequence of certain life events has transpired for you. And continues. God's timing!

    ReplyDelete

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    “No One Is Good but God” Mark 10:18 (NASB1995): “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” Mark tells us about a you...