In The Life of D.L. Moody, William R. Moody (D.L.’s son) records his father’s reflections on his experience aboard the Spree, a passenger ship that was to take him from London to New York. At some point in the voyage, the Spree’s drive shaft broke, putting a hole in the hull. The ship began to sink. Dwight Moody describes the experience:
“The officers and crew did all that they could to save the vessel. But it was soon found that the pumps were useless, for the water poured into the ship too rapidly to be controlled. There was nothing more in the power of man to do, and the ship was absolutely helpless, while the passengers could only stand still on the poor, drifting, sinking ship and look into our possible watery graves.”
After several more days on the ship, the situation seemed increasingly dire and Mr. Moody entered what he called “the darkest hour of my life.” Yet, even in that dark hour, Dwight Moody turned to God. It was in that moment that he found peace:
“I could not endure it. I must have relief, and relief came in prayer. God heard my cry, and enabled me to say, from the depth of my soul, ‘Thy will be done!’ Sweet peace came to my heart. Let it be Northfield or Heaven, it made no difference now. I went to bed, fell asleep almost immediately, and never slept more soundly in all my life. Out of the depths I cried unto my Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears. I can no more doubt that God gave answer to my prayer for relief than I can doubt my own existence.”
In reflecting on Moody’s experience at sea, I am reminded that God is with us in the midst of our troubles, and that He is not constrained by our troubles. His limits are never challenged. There is never a moment when there is nothing more He can do. God works beyond the possibilities we can imagine.
Milo 