The timeless “It is well with my soul,” song
The hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”, is a popular Christian hymn. The story behind this hymn is one of tragedy and triumph, as Horatio Spafford, a successful lawyer from Chicago, wrote it in the midst of immense personal loss.
The tragic story of Horatio Spafford and family
In 1871, Horatio Spafford and his wife, Anna, were facing a series of personal tragedies. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 had devastated the city, including much of Spafford’s real estate investments. Around the same time, the Spaffords also suffered the loss of their young son to scarlet fever. To recover from these hardships, Horatio decided to take his family on a vacation to England.
Because of some last-minute business complications, Horatio was delayed and had to send his wife and four daughters ahead on the transatlantic ship, the SS Ville du Havre. Tragically, the ship collided with another vessel, the Loch Earn, and sank in the Atlantic Ocean on November 22, 1873. Of Spafford’s family, only his wife, Anna, survived. The telegram he received from her simply read, “Saved alone.”
Devastated by the loss of his four daughters, Spafford boarded a ship to join his grieving wife in England. It was during this journey, as he passed near the location where the tragedy occurred, that he penned the words to “It Is Well with My Soul.”
The message of the hymn
“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
The song “It Is Well with My Soul” is a hymn that expresses profound faith and peace in the face of life’s trials. The lyrics describe a peace that transcends circumstances, using powerful imagery such as a river of peace and sorrows like sea billows. The refrain emphasizes the overall theme of well-being despite challenges.
“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.”
The second verse acknowledges the potential hardships and trials that life may bring, but it centers on the assurance that Christ has taken care of a believer’s spiritual condition by shedding His blood for their 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!”
The third stanza reflects on the forgiveness of sins and the joy that comes from the belief that all sins, in their entirety, are nailed to the cross. The refrain is repeated, emphasizing the continued sense of well-being.
“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.”
The fourth verse anticipates a future day when faith will become sight, and the singer will experience the ultimate fulfillment of their faith. It looks forward to the day when the Lord descends, and the clouds are rolled back. Throughout the song, the recurring refrain reinforces the central message that, no matter the circumstances, all is well with the soul.
Peace “like a river” in the midst of trials
The hymn reflects Spafford’s deep faith and trust in God, even in the face of profound sorrow. The lyrics convey a message of peace and resignation amid life’s trials and tribulations. The peace is because of the faith in Christ Jesus who has given his life for us on the cross and secured our eternal salvation. The temporal hardships and trials cannot take away the joy that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
The hymn has since become a source of comfort and inspiration for many people facing adversity. The powerful message of finding peace amid life’s storms has resonated with countless individuals, making “It Is Well with My Soul” a timeless hymn.
