It Is Well With My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
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!

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 Spafford

This song has been a lifelong favorite hymn of mine.  I have sung it at many funerals, including one just yesterday.  John Ness Beck wrote an amazing choral arrangement of this hymn and I absolutely love hearing our church choir sing it.  While it is a hymn I have always liked, it wasn't until I learned the story behind the hymn that it began to hold an even greater spot in my heart. 

Horatio Spafford had a couple of very difficult years.  First he and his wife lost their young son in a tragic accident and then most of his investments were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire.  To help the family grieve and come to a point of peace, he sent his wife and four daughters to Europe on a ship.  It was his plan to join them as soon as he tied up some business affairs at home.  As he was preparing to leave, he received a telegram from his wife saying that ship was in a collision and they had lost all four of their daughters.  It was while sailing to meet his wife that he penned these amazing words.

Have you been there?  Have you been overwhelmed by grief and felt as though you were being tossed about by the billowing seas?  Have you been burdened by past sins? Drudging up past mistakes and unable to forgive yourself?  I have and it is the knowledge that whatever my lot, Jesus has taught me that it is well with my soul.  No matter my sin, Jesus nailed it to the cross.  If He can forgive me, shouldn't I do the same.  Praise the Lord, it is well with my soul.  On that day when the trumpet shall resound, and the Lord shall descend...especially then, it will be well with my soul.