Few hymns capture faith through tragedy like “It Is Well with My Soul.” Its story is one of deep loss, unshakable trust, and hope in Christ that has carried generations of believers.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, 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.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.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!For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Bless’d hope, bless�d rest of my soul!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.Horatio G. Spafford,
Here’s is moving story of the hymn:
The Author
Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer and Presbyterian elder in Chicago. He and his wife Anna were devoted Christians, known for their generosity to the poor and their support of evangelist D.L. Moody. But their lives would soon be marked by unimaginable grief.
Early Sorrows
In 1870, the Spaffords’ young son died of scarlet fever. Just a year later, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of their property, wiping out much of their financial security. Yet these losses were only the beginning of deeper suffering.
The Tragedy at Sea
In 1873, Anna and their four daughters boarded the Ville du Havre to sail for Europe. Horatio stayed behind, delayed by business, and planned to follow them later. Midway across the Atlantic, the ship collided with another vessel and sank in 12 minutes.
The Dreadful Telegram
Anna was rescued, but all four daughters drowned. From Wales, she sent a heartbreaking telegram to her husband with two heart breaking words: “Saved alone.” Horatio immediately set sail to join her.
The Hymn’s Birth
During the voyage, as his ship passed near the waters where his daughters had died, Spafford was overwhelmed with grief. Yet out of that grief came words of profound faith: “When peace like a river attendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll…”
The Meaning of the Verses
Each verse of “It Is Well with My Soul” proclaims unshakable peace in Christ through every trial and hope in His return.
Verse 1 – Whether in peace or deep sorrow, God teaches the heart to say, “It is well.”
Verse 2 – Trials and Satan’s attacks cannot shake assurance secured in Christ’s blood.
Verse 3 – Every sin is fully forgiven, nailed to the cross, remembered no more.
Verse 4 – Hope rests in Christ’s return, when faith becomes sight and joy eternal.
The Chorus of Hope
The heart of the hymn is its chorus: “It is well, it is well with my soul.” These words aren’t naïve optimism… they are a confession that even in unbearable loss, peace is found in Christ alone. The chorus anchors the grief in the finished work of Jesus.
The Spafford’s Later Life
After the hymn’s birth, the Spaffords moved to Jerusalem and founded the “American Colony.” Known for serving the poor and sick without distinction, their work gained worldwide respect and made a lasting mark on the city.
Doctrinal Controversies
Unfortunately, Spafford’s theology grew troubling. His Colony downplayed the church, leaned into perfectionism, and even flirted with universalism. It’s a reminder: we must know not just the good, but also the hard parts of history behind our hymns.
The Hymn’s Impact & Legacy
Despite Spafford’s flaws, his hymn has carried countless believers through grief, funerals, and storms of life. Its power lies not in its author, but in its Christ-centered hope that reminds us that even in sorrow, the believer can say “it is well.”
revPACman 