Peace like a River

30 for 30

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“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll—
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well with my soul.”

• Horatio Spafford

These words were penned around 1873
Horatio lost his business and a fortune in the Chicago fire of 1871 and his four year old son to scarlet fever … sending his wife and daughters on vacation across the Atlantic thinking it would be good to get away, their ship sank, killing over 200 people including his four daughters…
Later passing over the same spot…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 know
It is well, it is well with my soul.”

I want a gospel
That tells me
It is well,
Whatever my lot,
It is well,
In the good times,
It is well when I’m poor,
It is well, when I’m anxious and scared…
It is well…
It is well…
Whatever my lot…
It is well…
Not just on the top of the mountain but down here in the valley
In the place I’m in…
Peace…peace like a river…

-E
#nationalpoetrymonth #30for30