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Is It Well With My Soul?

Weeping may last through the night… but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

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In 1873 Horatio Spafford penned the words to what is still today a popular hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.”

This is his story.

Horatio was a wealthy, prominent lawyer in the mid-1800’s in Chicago. He and his wife, Anna, built a more-than-comfortable life together. They owned a large, Victorian home in the city.  They had four daughters and one son. And a devout Christian faith.

Tragically, their young son died.

Shortly after his passing, Chicago went up in smoke. In the wake of the blaze that destroyed most of the city, the Spaffords lost almost all  of their real estate investments. Amid their grief and loss, the family decided to accompany D.L. Moody on a missions trip to Europe. They sought solace.

Last minute business kept Horatio back. He sent his wife and daughters ahead of him, planning to join them later. While on the journey, the ship that carried Anna and her daughters collided with another ship. Anna was the sole survivor of the Spafford family.

Days later Horatio received word. All of his children were dead.

He immediately made arrangements to join his grief-stricken wife in England. These are the words he penned as he crossed the watery grave that held the bodies of his four daughters.

  1. 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, it is well, with my soul.
  1. 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.
  2. 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!
  3. 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.
  4. 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!
  5. 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.

So I must ask myself today, amid my grief and loss, is it well with my soul?

 

Jan 21, 2013Serena
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Comments: 4
  1. Serena
    10 years ago

    my favorite version of this song.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaar6Ij55ig

    ReplyCancel
  2. Mandy
    10 years ago

    I’ve never known the history of this song until now. Powerful stuff! I can’t sing this song without remembering the last singing that Jon Moore was there for at your house. We sang this song at his request. Then just a few weeks later I stood with a group of young people and sang this song at his funeral. Can’t help but get emotional!

    Love you guys, still praying daily for comfort!

    ReplyCancel
  3. Patricia Warnock
    10 years ago

    This is my favorite hymn of all. It’s powerful with such promise. It’s been a hymn used at my Grandma’s funeral, as well my precious brother, David, my cherished nephew, Chad, and my Mother just two years ago. I was able to purchase a wooden tablet of sorts with this hymn inscribed on it in northern Indiana. I’m so happy to know the history of the writer of this amazing hymn and all the writer endured, with such faith. It’s difficult for me to sing the last verse that tells of how our Savior will return. I ask myself over and over if I’m worthy, will I be able to feel as the Apostle Paul was able to say with such confidence , that he was ready to depart – that all was well with his soul. I continue to pray for the DeGarmo family that with God’s arms around all of you that you will truly be triumphant. We send our love to all of you.

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    • Serena
      10 years ago

      Thank you dear sister! It is well with my soul.

      ReplyCancel

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Serena
10 years ago 4 Comments Christian Life, Death and Dying, Matters of the Heartacceptance, joy in tribulation291
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