Lisa Brewer Buffaloe
Peace like a River
By Lisa Buffaloe
Seeing this as a wonderful opportunity for the whole family, passage was booked on the S.S. Ville du Harve in November of 1873. Before they could leave, Spafford was detained by urgent business. The family was sent ahead and he planned to join them as soon as possible.
The ship, carrying his wife and daughters was struck by an English vessel and sank in twelve minutes -- 226 drowned. His four daughters were among the victims. Of his family, only his wife miraculously survived.
On his way to meet his bereaved wife, he stood on the deck of his ship. When they reached the approximate sight of the shipwreck, he wrote 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 with my soul”
How could he write, “It is well with my soul”? Only through God. Only God can make us 'well with our soul' in the midst of tragedy and turmoil. Horatio Spafford could not have written those words if his desires, hopes, and dreams, were solely wrapped up in this earth.
Peace is found through a soul perspective, by looking beyond today to the forever. Earth is temporal. Heaven is not. If God is our focus, our direction, and our love... there is nothing on earth that can shake or remove that stability. As the Psalmist wrote …“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You” (Psalm 73:25 NKJV).
Oswald Chambers wrote, “If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives--not concerns, nor tribulations, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy”.
I have seen, touched and felt God’s peace through storms, trials and the pain of life. I have seen death take friends, yet there was victory in the Lord. I have watched others in impossible situations have the peace that passes understanding. I do not stand alone, the pages of the Bible are filled with peace and hope from cover to cover.
Jesus asked Peter -- “Do you love Me?” The question is open for each of us. Will we love Him more than anything else in this world… more than possessions, family and friends? Will we let the Lord become our magnificent obsession where through Him we will find the overflowing of hope, joy, and peace. For through Him, and in Him, we will find that it is well with our soul. There is no better way and there is no other way.
Through Him peace is available, the hope without earthly bounds, peace beyond earthly comprehension, regardless of circumstances. There is victory in serving and loving Him, victory here on earth and victory that lies beyond this world. Take His hand, take it firmly and do not glance aside.
It is well with my soul because…“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8 NAS).
It is well with my soul because “God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son will give you grace, mercy and peace….” (2 John 1:3 NIV).
It is well with my soul even when the doors seem locked because “… Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” (John 20:26 NKJV).
It is well with my soul because… “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17 NIV).
It is well with my soul because… “You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you, because they trust you” (Isaiah 26:3 NCV).
It is well with my soul because I make the choice to “… seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14 It is well with my soul because… “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10 NKJV).
It is well with my soul because Jesus promises…
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NAS).
