It is Well With My Soul
One of the most popular and powerful hymns ever written, by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873 in tragic circumstances. What words of faith!
Welcome to Friday Classic Hymns. We take our favourite old hymns and look at them in three sections: the history of the hymn, the lyrics, and then a performance of the hymn. You can use the timestamps in the description below if you want to skip any of the sections. Today we're looking at a very special hymn which I think many of you already know the background of: It Is Well with My Soul.
The Story Behind "It Is Well with My Soul"
The story behind this hymn has become famous in recent years. Horatio G. Spafford is the author. He was a Presbyterian layman, born in 1828, and a successful businessman who did very well for himself. But then he was faced with a whole lot of tragedy.
First, his only son died. Then all of his real estate, which he had invested in heavily, was wiped out by a big fire. Then, in 1873, he and his family were scheduled to go to Britain to be part of an evangelistic campaign there by D.L. Moody, one of the great evangelists of the day. Spafford needed to stay behind for a few days to sort out some business matters, so he sent his family ahead—his wife and four daughters.
Tragically, the ship that his family was on was struck by another ship and sank within twelve minutes. He received a telegram, famously now, from his wife that said "Saved alone."
Soon after, he jumped onto a ship so that he could cross the ocean and join his wife. As he neared the section of water where the tragedy had taken place, he penned these amazing words. These words have provided much comfort and help for many followers of Christ in the years that have followed.
What Do the Lyrics of "It Is Well with My Soul" Mean?
Verse 1
The first verse is the classic, and many people rely on this in their times of difficulty: 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.
Great words. If there's peace, or if there are sorrows and waves—sea billows rolling into my life—whatever my lot, I can say it is well with my soul. That sounds a lot like Paul in Philippians, who said, "I know what it is to have much, I know what it is to have little, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:12-13). This is the great gift that every Christian is able to receive: wellness of the soul, whether in times of peace or times of sorrow.
Verse 2
In verse two, he takes it a bit further: Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blessed assurance control, that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.
If the devil is going to attack, if difficult times are going to come upon me, I still have assurance because Christ has seen and regarded me and shed His blood for me. So deep was his faith in the blood of Christ and in the sacrifice of Christ that even his trials and his difficulties were manageable because of what Christ did for him.
Can we say the same today? That our faith in Christ's sacrifice puts everything else in perspective?
Verse 3
Verse three talks about death: For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live—it sounds again like Paul when he said, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). 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.
He's saying even if the waters come crashing down on me and I die, I will have no pain in my heart because even in death, just as in life, God's peace will be whispered into my soul. Again, the deep faith of this man to write this in that place of sorrow is remarkable.
Verse 4
The fourth verse is just beautiful: 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.
He's saying, "Lord, one day I'm going to see You face to face, and instead of just faith, I will have real sight of You—and what a day that will be!" The clouds will be rolled back, the trumpet will sound, and Jesus will descend. Even in that amazing sight, it'll be well with my soul. He'll be well because he trusts in Him.
Conclusion
What an amazing song. Singing this song is a real act of faith. It's a real act of trust, saying to God: whatever's going on in my life—storms, peace, death, life, whatever—I trust, and my soul is okay.
Is your faith in Jesus this deep today?
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References
Philippians 4:12-13
Philippians 1:21
