Massive Storm Claims Lives | Features

The havoc and destruction caused by the impact of Hurricane Katrina on Louisiana and particularly New Orleans is one of the greatest 'natural' disasters to hit the western world. At the time of writing, there are no figures to quantify the thousands who have died, or the hundreds of thousands who have been displaced or lost their homes and livelihoods.

Christians all over the world need to pray, both for our brothers and sisters in the U.S and also for those many who do not believe but are at a crossroads in their lives where Jesus is standing to meet them. The tragedies of life are without doubt opportunities for intimacy with God.

Horatio G. Spafford and his wife, Anna, were very visible members of 1860's Chicago society.

Horatio had a successful legal career and was a significant business man. What set them apart though was their friendship with the great preacher D.L.Moody.

Everything looked good for them didn't it? However Horatio's life was littered with personal tragedy:

- In 1870 their 4 years old son died of scarlet fever - In 1871 Horatio's huge real estate investments were wiped out by the great fire of Chicago.

Just when things couln't get worse. After all this anyone would need a holiday, so because Moody needed help in England, the family set off for a 'working holiday' via the French steamer "Ville de Havre" from New York. Contrary to his plans, at the last minute Horatio had to let his family go ahead. Anna and their four daughters set sail. Nine days later Horatio received a telegram from his wife stating simply "Saved Alone".

On the journey the steamer had collided with 'The Lochearn' and sank in 12 minutes killing 226 people. Anna had only been saved by a floating piece of debris, but all the children were drowned. After she was rescued, she heard a voice say to her "you were saved for a purpose". The potent words of a friend came to her mind "It's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God."

Horatio took the next ship to England to join his wife, but on the crossing the captain pointed out the area where the "Ville de Havre" was believed to have sunk. Horatio went to his cabin and wrote a hymn that is familiar to so many:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord! Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul! And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

Closer to home. No doubt Horatio considered the Shunammite woman whose son had died when he penned these words.

2 Kings 4:27 So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, "Look, the Shunammite woman! 26 Please run now to meet her, and say to her, 'Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?'"And she answered, "It is well." 27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me." NKJV

This woman had a miracle that brought her son back to life, but for those who mourn today, there is also the miracle of comfort in Jesus.

Whatever storm hits your life, hurricane force or otherwise, whether you are flooded and drowning or just disturbed by the ferocity of circumstances, God is good. Your circumstances do not change the nature and being of God – nor are they necessarily any signal of His intent. Rather it is true that:

Job 5:7 man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. NIV

An area the size of Great Britain has been devastated by one storm – who is to say that it might not be Great Britain itself one day – natural hurricane or otherwise. One thing is for sure – if we truly get to know God and make time-sharing with Him a regular thing in our lives then we will also be able to declare "it is well".

When my seven year old son died after a 3 year battle with cancer, I said it – and I am still saying it now! I don't want any more trouble – but if it comes my way I will still thank God that even in storm He never leaves me alone. Whatever you are facing today – give God time. If you are (thankfully) not in the New Orleans area, then realise the precarious nature of our existence and the tenuousness of life – now is a great time to get close to God.

I always say that I am glad I knew God before walking through the last 3 years of my son's life – and that I didn't have to go there alone! Whatever storm is blowing your way it is time to do an intimacy check with God. Don't know Him? – This is your time.

Rom 10:13 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." NIV

Know Him? – Now is the best time you will ever have to build your relationship and be close to Him, so that when troubles come you don't have to look round for Him!

Matt 28:20 And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." NLT