History: “It Is Well With My Soul”

Below is a hymn history that I did for Biblical Thought that they posted on their blog and I thought that it would be appropriate to publish it here as well.

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 on 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.