It Is Well With My Soul

And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:7 NKJV)

The song “It is Well with My Soul” was written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. He was a successful lawyer and businessman who lived in Chicago with his wife and five children. His life, however, was marked by tragedy.

In 1871, his only son died at age four from pneumonia. In the same year, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed most of his business. He planned a European trip for his family in 1873 but had to remain behind to finish up some work; he encouraged his wife and daughters to go ahead without him. While crossing the Atlantic, on November 21, 1873, the ocean liner they were traveling on collided with another ship. It sank in about twelve minutes and the only member of his family to survive was his wife. His four daughters perished in the cold ocean. His wife sent Horatio a telegram, which said, “Saved alone.” He later framed the telegram and kept it in his office.

One of the ship’s survivors said they heard his wife, Anna, saying, “God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand why.”

Horatio booked passage on the next available ship to go to his wife. It is said he wrote It is Well with My Soul while on this journey (excerpt below).

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.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath 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 His 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 pain shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

I pray none of us ever has to go through this much heartbreak and pain, but how amazing that, amid his suffering, Horatio Spafford still held on to his God and wrote this incredibly beautiful and powerful song. May we too follow his example and cling to God because He will always bring us through, no matter how deep the anguish.