I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. ² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. ³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. ⁴ Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:1-4

When you look at this glass what do you see? Do you see it as half full or half empty? Perhaps the most famous story in hymnody is the true life event which detailed the context of the hymn ‘it is well’.

Economic and Personal tragedies struck the Spafford family in a way that could possibly drive someone away from God, but H G Spafford took the calamities that befell him and turned them into a heartfelt expression of contrition before God that would last through the ages.

He lived with his family in Chicago where he was the best of friends with the renowned preacher of the day, Dwight L. Moody. Spafford was a lawyer and had earned a good living and made many investments in real estate in the city but in 1871 he faced several tragedies. He and wife Anna had just lost a son to Scarlet Fever and then the Great Chicago Fire destroyed most of his real estate holdings.

The family carried on, then about 2 years later Horatio decided to take a trip to Europe being aware that his friend Moody would be preaching in England later that year and the family could perhaps attend. However, business matters kept Mr. Spafford behind sending wife Anna and their four daughters ahead on the journey.

The trip turned tragic when their vessel was struck mid-voyage by a large industrial ship taking the lives of 226 passengers including all four of the Spafford daughters, Annie, Bessie, Tanetta and Maggie. However, wife Anna survived and finally arrived in England where she would send a chilling telegram to her husband with only two words, "Saved Alone".

It would be two years before Horatio would sail to England to rejoin his wife. While on the voyage across the ocean, he was made aware of the very spot where the accident had occurred which tragically took the life of his children. There he penned the fateful words to the beloved song, "It Is Well With My Soul".

The Psalmist David, also a musician, told a lot of his life through the poetry of the psalms, noticing that in times of personal struggle and tragedy, God is the only true author of our help.

Today lift up your eyes and see God from a different point of view.

Brooklyn Tabernacle sing ‘Psalm 121.’ Click on the picture to listen.