President’s post: During tragedy, can you say ‘It is well’?
One of the most celebrated hymns of all time was unexpectedly written by an American lawyer, Horatio Spafford. Horatio’s biography reads much like the book of Job. His career and success were suddenly and unexpectedly disrupted by personal tragedy and financial loss.
The great Chicago fire of 1871 destroyed most of his investments, and he lost four daughters to a shipwreck on a transatlantic journey to Europe. His wife, Anna, was the sole survivor. It was that event that inspired Spafford to write the hymn, “It is Well With My Soul.”
Every semester, our students will no doubt experience triumphs. I have seen many accolades and achievements our students have garnered in the classroom and on the athletic fields.
But sometimes tragedies come our way. And many times, tragedy can come suddenly and unexpectedly. In those moments of life “when sorrows like sea billows roll,” it is only because of Jesus Christ that we can say, “It is well with my soul.”
How should we respond when tragedy or pain comes unexpectedly? The Bible gives us many accounts of men and women who put their faith and trust in the Lord through difficult times.
In the book of Job, when he lost everything and even when his wife turned her back on God and her husband, Job still honored the Lord and remained faithful. He said, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). The outcry of Job’s heart was sincere because he truly loved the Lord.
Some of you might ask, “But what is the purpose behind tragedy?” We must first recognize that God is not the author of sin nor the author of tragedy, but he sometimes allows tragedy to strike in order to draw us closer to him.
James, the brother of Jesus, wrote something the world would never understand: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And perseverance must finish its work in you so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). There is a purpose in trials. God is working to develop perseverance in each of us.
Remember, God always has a purpose that we do not immediately see. He is always working. In the life of Joseph, we see his brothers’ bitter betrayal as he was sold into slavery to suffer his fate in Egypt.
Joseph was later framed for a crime he didn’t commit and thrown into prison to die alone. God then blessed Joseph and redeemed his life, and Pharaoh made him second in command of all Egypt. When his family journeyed to Egypt during a great famine, Joseph was reunited with his brothers and said to them, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good” (Gen 50:20).
When tragedy strikes, we must never forget the author and perfector of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ. Though he suffered at the hands of wicked men and went to the cross at Calvary, God had a purpose and intention in the suffering of his only Son. Through the shed blood of Jesus, sinners could be reconciled to God. God took the ultimate tragedy, the death of his Son, and brought about the ultimate triumph, the resurrection from the dead and everlasting life.
We don’t know what tomorrow might bring, but we know we can trust in Jesus Christ. Even amid tragedy, there is triumph because of the victory he has won over the grave. And we know that we can have comfort and confidence that we are his and that he will never let us go. Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd… My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:11, 27-28). Likewise, Paul said, “nothing can separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:31).
No matter what you might be facing today or tomorrow, and no matter what pain was a part of your yesterday, you can always trust in the Lord. Is it well with your soul today? Have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Seek him out and do it today. I want you to know, dear student, that I love you, and I am praying for you this semester. I can’t wait to see what God does in your life.
Prevo is the Interim President of Liberty University