Sing Into Your Storm ~ Overcoming Adversity Through High Praise

THE FAMILY, a radio program with Dr. James Dobson (since I was going to become the world’s greatest dad). Several months into our daily routine, the radio program did a special series on the stories behind many of the great hymns. One hymn in particular, I had heard at least part of the story previously, and it had impacted me very deeply, so I was looking forward to hearing the entire story. It was the story of Horatio Spafford, and the great hymn he wrote was called “It is well with my Soul.” Horatio was one of the wealthiest businessmen at the turn of the century in Chicago, Illinois. A devout Christian, great husband, father and loved by many for his generosity. He had a son who became gravely ill. As a righteous man before the Lord, he pleaded incessantly for the Lord to heal his boy. Horatio was a mature Christian in the faith and I have no doubt that he possessed the faith and confidence in God to see his son healed. But the Lord did not heal his son and the child died. Grief stricken by this tragic loss, and in wanting to console his wife and four daughters, Horatio arranged for the family to go on a ship cruise over to Europe to work through their grief and take time for his family to heal. But just days before the voyage was to set sail, a rather well- known chapter in history occurred which gave us the old song “There’ll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight”). Catherine (Kate) O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern in a barn, which ultimately caused the great Chicago fire that burned up almost all of the Chicago waterfront.

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