It Is Well With My Soul

In 1871, a man named Horatio Spafford lost his four year old son. In that same year, Horatio lost much of his fortune in the Great Chicago Fire. Two years later, he planned on taking a trip to Europe. Some business delayed him, so he sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him. Their ship collided with another ship and all four daughters drowned. His wife survived and sent him this famous telegram, “Saved alone…”

After all this, Horatio sat down and penned this famous hymn:

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

Refrain
It is well, (it is well),
With my soul, (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!
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!^b

Life as we know it is so frustrating right now. I go from anger to frustration, and back to anger. I hate all of this shutdown. But when I turn my eyes upwards, God gives me peace. I hope you can look to God and find peace for your soul too.