Worship Series #5: It Is Well with My Soul
This week’s Worship Series is by Glen Pettit. He has selected a hymn that has some of the most moving lyrics that describe the normal Christian response to trials. Scripture tells us that all those in Christ will suffer and face trials. In the midst of trials, is it well with your soul? Glen’s blog is “Guarding the Truth.”
This very familiar hymn was written by Horatio G. Spafford. Mr. Spafford was born to his father, also Horatio Spafford, and his mother October 20, 1828. He studied as an attorney and started a practice that was very successful. He was also a successful businessman in the Chicago area investing very wisely in real estate. He and his wife had 5 children by 1873. Their son, Horatio, died at the age of 4 from Scarlet Fever.
The Great Chicago fire in 1871 financially devastated the Spafford family. Even though they suffered a great loss the Spafford family spent the next two years helping those who lost more in the fire.
In 1873 the Spafford family decided to take a vacation to England to assist with their friend and great evangelist Dwight L. Moody. Horatio, his wife Anna, and their 4 daughters all went to New York in preparation for the trip to England. Last minute business obligations kept Horatio from sailing with the family, but he saw no reason to keep the rest of the family from enjoying their trip. He put his wife and daughters o
n the vessel S.S. Ville du Havre which set sail in November 1873 and Horatio return to Chicago to take care of the business obligations. On the morning of 21 November 1873 the Ville du Havre was rammed by the British Lochearn. Anna was only saved by a plank that supported her unconscious body in the water. She was pulled from the wreckage and when she reached England she sent a telegram to her husband which read “Saved alone…”
Horatio immediately set out for England to be with his wife. When the ship he was on reached the point where the Ville du Havre sank the Capitan called him to the bridge and told him that they were over the spot where his children had perished. He returned to his cabin and penned the words “When peace like a river attendeth my way… It is well with my soul.”
Horatio and his wife did not cave or loose faith. They returned to Chicago and in 1881 moved to Jerusalem and started a mission to the poor. Mr Spafford died in 1888 of Malaria.
This hymn has been a great blessing to many over the years and has blessed me also. I hope you enjoy this hymn as well.
It Is Well With My Soul
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.
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!
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 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.
Below are two versions of this song. One instrumental, and the other with singing.
5 Comments, Comment or Ping
H8n S8n
After an event that would rip a normal person apart? He wrote a hymn
that has become a standard and still blesses us 135 years later!
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
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.
H8n S8n
Aug 24th, 2008
Derek Manning
It is sad that these great hymns have virtually been banished in favor of the “Jesus is my boyfriend” music that pervades much of evan-jellyfish-ism. My wife had never heard this song until we attended Faith Community Church one Sunday last November. After the service she asked me about this hymn, and I told her the story.
In March of this year, my wife was attacked and almost raped. She told me that this song ran through her mind during the attack, and that it gave her peace. Peace knowing that if God had ordained that she would die that morning, she knew that she would be with Jesus. However, she did not meekly allow this man to have his way. She fought him, and wore him out in th fight. He was arrested and eventually jailed. In July, she had to testify in the preliminary hearing for this person, and again she told me that all during her testimony, that this song kept running through her mind.
I find it interesting that the song that kept coming to her mind was Spafford’s great hymn, and not the Jesus is my lover music that we usually sing at the church we attend.
Derek
Aug 24th, 2008
Sir Aaron
Derek:
Incredible story. I thank God for your wife’s safety. I, too, have found that we are really missing out on the awesome doctrine and lyrics that are contained in these old hymns. Although I enjoy listening to contemporary Christian music, whenever I need comforting I remember hymns.
Aug 24th, 2008
Mario Herrera
What peace for the soul, the words to this hymn bring!
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and has shed His own blood for my soul!
Nothing but spontaneous bursts of praise arise from within!!!!!!!!!
Glory to the King of Kings! Oh, Lord haste the day when the faith shall be sight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord O my soul!!!!!!!!
Aug 25th, 2008
Travis
This song is great we dont really sing hymns at my church either, well not as they were written, sometimes it is good to hear the original version.
It is well with my soul
Aug 28th, 2008
Reply to “Worship Series #5: It Is Well with My Soul”