“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John 2, ESV)
Some might say Horatio Spafford led a cursed life. Though a successful attorney and investor, starting in 1871, everything went wrong for Spafford. It started when he lost a great deal of money in the Chicago fire of 1871. About that time, his four-year-old son died of scarlet fever. Suffering dearly, Spafford decided to send his wife and four daughters to England to be with family for a well-deserved vacation together. He was to join them a few days later after he made financial provisions. While traveling to England, the ship carrying Spafford’s family sank. Only his wife survived.
Horatio Spafford was shaken to his core. He immediately left to be with his wife in England. Boarding a ship, he left port on the same route his family had taken. Partway through the voyage, the captain of the ship quietly informed Spafford that the very spot in the ocean they were now traveling was the same spot his four children had drowned in the shipwreck.
Reeling with emotion, hurting with heartbreak, Horatio Spafford focused his heart on prayer. He thought about his family. He thought about God. In that very moment, Spafford was moved to write the words that have been immortalized in hymn ever since. He wrote:
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll--
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know…
It is well, it is well with my soul.
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live;
If dark hours about me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
It is well with my soul! It is well, it is well with my soul!
Some have surmised that when Spafford penned these words that that he was thinking of 3 John 2. It is the only verse in the Bible that mentions being “well” or “well with soul” twice! 3 John 2 includes John’s words to faithful Gaius, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” These words were meant to bring God’s comfort to Gaius in the days of the New Testament. They probably did the same for poor, suffering Horatio Spafford.
What in this verse of the Bible gives so much hope to people like Gaius and Spafford? The apostle John desired health and wholeness for Gaius. However, John wanted more for his dear friend. John wanted faithful Gaius to continue to “be well with his soul”. John knew that while health is important, the health of the soul is crucial to a blessed life. John wanted this for his friend. I want this for you!
Let’s look more closely at 3 John 2. In the Greek, this verse means not only the desire that Gaius’ soul is “well” or healthy. It implies a great deal more. The word used in this verse means to “find success”, “be led on a good path”, or “be brought to the right way”. John knew that Gaius’ health could only bring him so far in life. God could lead his soul down very great paths to spiritual success, to spiritual revelation, to spiritual healing!
I have met people who were healthy in every way EXCEPT spiritually. They enjoyed physical success in their endeavors, with some achieving medals and awards and great salaries due to their physical abilities or healthy living. However, because of their lack of a connection with God, their success faltered and failed. Some felt alone. Some could not overcome their regret at getting older to suffering injury. Without God to lead them to spiritual growth and success, their growth was stunted. Their life was missing something. Their soul shriveled. Their hope wavered. Their success dimmed with time.
A very famous sports figure was picked as a national champion in college. He was given multiple awards. Sports writers assumed he would go far in the field. And he did. But not long after beginning a very successful career in his sport, something happened. Rehabilitating after an injury, he began to think, “Is this the end of my career? Is this all there is to my life? Am I just a sports idol? Isn’t there more to me than just how well I perform?” One night, setting aside his crutches, he knelt beside his bed and asked the Lord Jesus to come into his life. He told his best friend that the prayer that night did something to him. He explained how he felt God’s overwhelming presence in that room. A new kind of joy and hope filled his heart. He began to think of what he might do with his life after his sports career. He was filled with newfound purpose, God-given in a moment of spiritual growth. He had success in the Spirit! It was “well with his soul”.
I have met people with very sick souls. Often, they are self-destructive. Being spiritually unfulfilled, they usually suck the joy out of those around them. They tend to be self-absorbed, materialistic, and worldly. Without a healthy soul, their relationship with God non-existent; their view of life is one of “take everything you can get because your days of this earth are short”. Instead of desiring God’s presence, they want to be entertained or worshipped. They desire selfish rewards. Their values are skewed. Their focus is on this life. They do not care about whom they hurt. Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone was so spiritually stunted and unwell?
The apostle John wanted the best for his friend, Gaius. I want the best for you. I want your soul to be “well”, “successful”, “on the right path”. That cannot happen if you are more worldly than spiritual. It cannot happen if your idea of success is selfish and driven by worldly desire. It cannot happen if you are not on the path God would wish you to walk. You see, a “well soul” is only found when you are on the right path, following the Holy Spirit’s direction, and willing to obey the direction of God Almighty.
In Jesus Christ, I pray you find spiritual “success”. I pray you are “well in the soul”. I pray you are today walking the path God wills you to be on. Horatio Spafford found comfort in the darkest of times by being “well with his soul”. A well soul is healed, loved, obedient, trusting, godly, holy, faithful, and attuned to the presence of our Lord.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Faithful Lord my God! I have endeavored to be faithful to You. I come to You on this day to praise Your work, give thanks for Your call upon my life, and show respect for Your truth. In Jesus Christ, I seek Your counsel. With humility, I look for Your redemption.
There have been moments I have failed You, Lord. I have not followed through for You. I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. When presented with a choice, I decided to follow my own selfish ways instead of opting for a righteous outcome. In truth, there were times I should have asked for Your direction but instead followed my own wisdom. I was prideful. I didn't think. I acted rashly. I was not graceful.
I need forgiveness and grace. I admit that my tendency is to sin. Temptations have a way of luring me in. Worldly desires cloud my judgment. I am swayed by what is easiest, what fancies my mood, what is in my best interest. Too often, I do not respond with what is in Your best interest, what is right, what is holy.
Teach me to be patient, dear Lord! Teach me the meaning of suffering. May I learn the art of discipline. May I learn to adapt to Your will, that it may be done!
Today, I pray for the following people who are suffering for their choices, listening to the wrong voices, or just feeling "stuck" in life...
_______________________________________________________ . May they learn that Your ways are best, that Your comfort is the best comfort, and that a life without You is a life destined for sadness.
In honor of Jesus, I raise this prayer to Heaven! With love, I look to You! Amen.
Horatio Spafford was shaken to his core. He immediately left to be with his wife in England. Boarding a ship, he left port on the same route his family had taken. Partway through the voyage, the captain of the ship quietly informed Spafford that the very spot in the ocean they were now traveling was the same spot his four children had drowned in the shipwreck.
Reeling with emotion, hurting with heartbreak, Horatio Spafford focused his heart on prayer. He thought about his family. He thought about God. In that very moment, Spafford was moved to write the words that have been immortalized in hymn ever since. He wrote:
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll--
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know…
It is well, it is well with my soul.
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live;
If dark hours about me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
It is well with my soul! It is well, it is well with my soul!
Some have surmised that when Spafford penned these words that that he was thinking of 3 John 2. It is the only verse in the Bible that mentions being “well” or “well with soul” twice! 3 John 2 includes John’s words to faithful Gaius, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” These words were meant to bring God’s comfort to Gaius in the days of the New Testament. They probably did the same for poor, suffering Horatio Spafford.
What in this verse of the Bible gives so much hope to people like Gaius and Spafford? The apostle John desired health and wholeness for Gaius. However, John wanted more for his dear friend. John wanted faithful Gaius to continue to “be well with his soul”. John knew that while health is important, the health of the soul is crucial to a blessed life. John wanted this for his friend. I want this for you!
Let’s look more closely at 3 John 2. In the Greek, this verse means not only the desire that Gaius’ soul is “well” or healthy. It implies a great deal more. The word used in this verse means to “find success”, “be led on a good path”, or “be brought to the right way”. John knew that Gaius’ health could only bring him so far in life. God could lead his soul down very great paths to spiritual success, to spiritual revelation, to spiritual healing!
I have met people who were healthy in every way EXCEPT spiritually. They enjoyed physical success in their endeavors, with some achieving medals and awards and great salaries due to their physical abilities or healthy living. However, because of their lack of a connection with God, their success faltered and failed. Some felt alone. Some could not overcome their regret at getting older to suffering injury. Without God to lead them to spiritual growth and success, their growth was stunted. Their life was missing something. Their soul shriveled. Their hope wavered. Their success dimmed with time.
A very famous sports figure was picked as a national champion in college. He was given multiple awards. Sports writers assumed he would go far in the field. And he did. But not long after beginning a very successful career in his sport, something happened. Rehabilitating after an injury, he began to think, “Is this the end of my career? Is this all there is to my life? Am I just a sports idol? Isn’t there more to me than just how well I perform?” One night, setting aside his crutches, he knelt beside his bed and asked the Lord Jesus to come into his life. He told his best friend that the prayer that night did something to him. He explained how he felt God’s overwhelming presence in that room. A new kind of joy and hope filled his heart. He began to think of what he might do with his life after his sports career. He was filled with newfound purpose, God-given in a moment of spiritual growth. He had success in the Spirit! It was “well with his soul”.
I have met people with very sick souls. Often, they are self-destructive. Being spiritually unfulfilled, they usually suck the joy out of those around them. They tend to be self-absorbed, materialistic, and worldly. Without a healthy soul, their relationship with God non-existent; their view of life is one of “take everything you can get because your days of this earth are short”. Instead of desiring God’s presence, they want to be entertained or worshipped. They desire selfish rewards. Their values are skewed. Their focus is on this life. They do not care about whom they hurt. Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone was so spiritually stunted and unwell?
The apostle John wanted the best for his friend, Gaius. I want the best for you. I want your soul to be “well”, “successful”, “on the right path”. That cannot happen if you are more worldly than spiritual. It cannot happen if your idea of success is selfish and driven by worldly desire. It cannot happen if you are not on the path God would wish you to walk. You see, a “well soul” is only found when you are on the right path, following the Holy Spirit’s direction, and willing to obey the direction of God Almighty.
In Jesus Christ, I pray you find spiritual “success”. I pray you are “well in the soul”. I pray you are today walking the path God wills you to be on. Horatio Spafford found comfort in the darkest of times by being “well with his soul”. A well soul is healed, loved, obedient, trusting, godly, holy, faithful, and attuned to the presence of our Lord.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Faithful Lord my God! I have endeavored to be faithful to You. I come to You on this day to praise Your work, give thanks for Your call upon my life, and show respect for Your truth. In Jesus Christ, I seek Your counsel. With humility, I look for Your redemption.
There have been moments I have failed You, Lord. I have not followed through for You. I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. When presented with a choice, I decided to follow my own selfish ways instead of opting for a righteous outcome. In truth, there were times I should have asked for Your direction but instead followed my own wisdom. I was prideful. I didn't think. I acted rashly. I was not graceful.
I need forgiveness and grace. I admit that my tendency is to sin. Temptations have a way of luring me in. Worldly desires cloud my judgment. I am swayed by what is easiest, what fancies my mood, what is in my best interest. Too often, I do not respond with what is in Your best interest, what is right, what is holy.
Teach me to be patient, dear Lord! Teach me the meaning of suffering. May I learn the art of discipline. May I learn to adapt to Your will, that it may be done!
Today, I pray for the following people who are suffering for their choices, listening to the wrong voices, or just feeling "stuck" in life...
_______________________________________________________ . May they learn that Your ways are best, that Your comfort is the best comfort, and that a life without You is a life destined for sadness.
In honor of Jesus, I raise this prayer to Heaven! With love, I look to You! Amen.