It is well with my soul

Whatever my lot

You have taught me to say

It is well

It is well with my soul

Horatio Spafford, author of the hymn It Is Well With My Soul, had just lost his daughters in a tragic shipwreck when he penned the lyrics to this famous hymn while staring out at sea and crying out to the Lord.

Spafford was no stranger to loss as just a year earlier he had lost his son and his business to the great Chicago fire. Yet through it all, Horatio remained steadfast in his relationship with his Lord, calling upon Him in his time of need.

In "It's a Wonderful Life" George Bailey makes a distress call to the Lord for help, but in contrast to Horatio Spafford's predicament, George Bailey had only assumed he was about to lose everything. Big difference, right?

Yes, George Bailey is only a fictional character but there's a lot we can learn from his story, a story many of us know all too well.

George Bailey was a confident, overeager, ambitious yet arrogant at times individual who had plans to conquer the world,

"I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and the next year after that."

Hollywood icon Woody Allen once suggested that if you wanted to make God laugh just tell Him you're future plans. If George Bailey weren't a fictitious character, God would be laughing hysterically at him right about now.

George Baily is determined to succeed on his own terms until his plans go awry and finds himself having to make life altering decisions for his family.

Unfortunately, for George Bailey it wasn't until his need became too great for him to handle that he would finally approach God for help.

"Dear Father in heaven, I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there, and you can hear me, show me the way...show me the way."

George Bailey's prayer for help was a simple one and sometimes that's all it takes. No long winded prayers containing thee's and thou's are needed, just a simple, humble acknowledgement to God is sufficient.

When the Apostle Paul began to sink when walking upon the water toward Jesus, he simply said, "Lord, save me!"

"Short prayers are long enough. There were but three words in the petition which Peter grasped out, but they were sufficient for his purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. Our extremities are the Lord's opportunities." - Charles Spurgeon

Next time you find yourself in a George Bailey moment and a cry to God for help is all you have, remember God hears you, He knows your heart, He's there for you and He loves you.