It Is Well With My Soul

The History

"It Is Well With My Soul"

      Sometimes we sing hymns at various places without even thinking about how the song was written.  We sing them without thinking about the words and the impact they make on lives.  Once we know the history of events that took place that caused the writers to write the songs, the words take a whole new meaning to our lives. 
      One such song is “It Is Well With My Soul” written by Horatio Spafford and the music written by Philip Bliss.  Horatio Spafford was a lawyer in Chicago and a Christian.  He and his family spent time serving their church along with the city of Chicago.  As time went by, tragedy struck the family. First, with the death of their four-year-old son from scarlet fever, then a short time later, the Great Chicago Fire.  Mr. Spafford lost everything in the Chicago Fire, yet his faith still remained strong.  He didn’t give up, but continued to serve God. 
     Among his friends were D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey.  In the fall of 1873, Mr. Spafford decided for the family to go to Great Britain for some rest and to join Mr. Moody and Mr. Sankey in their campaigns.  Due to some last minute business, Mr. Spafford had to stay in Chicago a few weeks longer, but sent his family on head of him. 
     In November, 1873, Mrs. Spafford sent a cable to her husband with the words, “Saved, alone.”  The ship they were on sunk and all four daughters were lost at sea.  Imagine his heartache.  I could never imagine the heartache he and his wife must have gone through.  But yet, in the midst of tragedy, they never lost their faith in God.
     As Mr. Spafford sailed over the place his daughters died, he penned the words to “It Is Well With My Soul.”  A song that is still sung today.
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.
CHORUS
It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well, with 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!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
A song in the night, oh my soul!
Most songbooks change the last sentence of the last verse to “even so, it is well with my soul.”