When Faith Becomes Sight

You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. – James 5:8

Often it has been said, “One can hear something a thousand times, but it’s not until the 1001st time that it finally absorbs.” How true is that? I know that as far as my children went, I called this selective hearing. However, this clarity rings true for most of us.

I love the song, It Is Well with My Soul and I can’t tell you the times I’ve sung this song or heard it sung and simply enjoyed it for the beauty of its music. However, I personally had one of this “Ahh” moments when the 1001st time finally hit me and I took hold of the lyrics.

Horatio G. Spafford kissed his wife and four daughters as he helped them board a ship bound for Europe where they were to visit relatives. During the trip the ship collided with a second steamship. As the ship sank Mrs. Spafford prayed with her daughters and committed them to God. She was saved but her four daughters perished. When Mrs. Spafford arrived in Europe she sent a wire to husband that said, “Saved alone.”

Mr. Spafford rushed to be by his wife’s side and comfort her. In his grief he remarked, “It is well with my soul, God’s will be done.” Three years later, he wrote this beautiful hymn.

The final verse states,“ And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight.” Wow, the day when my faith becomes sight – the day the hope in things not seen becomes vivid. In other words, the day I understand everything. It only took two decades for that information to absorb.

Won’t that be a wonderful day? The day we understand why everything happens the way it does – the day we fully grasp God’s plan and everything comes into focus. There is much the human mind cannot take hold of and process. However, there will be a day when everything comes into focus. We will have a clarity we’ve never experienced before.

When the line of this song finally took hold of me I had a brief sample of what it would be like to understand. We have all had harsh events in our lives. There are times we can come to grips with these events and times we just can’t understand why. Sometimes in our sorrow, we question God, even become angry with Him, as we try to make sense of things. When we choose to hold firmly to Christ through these times our faith strengthens and comfort comes. Perhaps it is not in the way we expect, but in our love for Christ there will be a time when our faith becomes sight and we see clearly.

Surviving painful times is never easy. Our hearts ache and we feel as though the darkness surrounding us will never fade, but keeping our eyes focused on the one who knows all things will bring us to that understanding down the road. Isn’t it comforting to know the Savior waits for us – through it all He is there, waiting, and hoping we will seek Him.

“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.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul” (Spafford, 1876)

Prayer: Father, we long for the time when our faith becomes a clear sight. Give us peace and comfort until that day.

It is Well with My Soul, Horatio Gates Spafford, 1876