True Peace In A Time Such As This

Having interviewed an astounding 40,000 people, Larry King was once asked who he would like to interview the most. King said that he would like to have a dialogue with God. Growing up in a Jewish home he said that he would like to ask God just one question, “Do you really have a son?”

It is estimated that we have 60,000 thoughts per day. The problem is that numerous people have 95% of the same thoughts day in and day out. For many people, the vast majority of those thoughts are devoid of hope, and many have become more anxious with the arrival of the Coronavirus.

Author and minister Charles Swindoll shared the following words of inspiration and perspective for challenging times like these, “Pain is limited…it cannot cripple love, corrode faith, kill a friendship, silence courage,
invade the soul…it cannot lesson the power of the resurrection.”

It has been said that there are two great questions of philosophy, one, has anyone conquered death, and two, has he made a way for me to do it. One man who shares a powerful testimony for those in search of answers is Horatio Spafford.

A successful lawyer in the nineteenth century, he and his family lost most of their estate in the great Chicago Fire. One day he sent his wife and children ahead of him to Europe by boat while he remained in the U.S. to wrap up some business.

While crossing the Atlantic their boat collided with another ship and sank, tragically killing all four of Horatio’s daughters. He received a telegram from his wife that contained only two words, “Saved alone.”

Horatio immediately chartered a ship to Europe to be by the side of his grieving wife. When his ship sailed over the spot of the accident, the captain called Horatio to the deck and told him this was where he lost everything.

Quietly returning to his cabin, Horatio Spafford penned the immortal words to the song, “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.

This season of the year is about the power of life over death, of hope of fear, of grace over sin and love over all. Perhaps European Christians sum it up best in three words with their weekly expression, “Christ is victor!”

In Christ death has been defeated, despair has an answer, fear has been conquered, humanity has been infused with life, and hope springs eternal.