Can you say with confidence, “It is well with my soul”? Our family will sing this beautiful song Saturday, at my Dad’s memorial. Heartbreak is the motive behind many great songs we know and love including this one. How much heartbreak can a person face before they curse God and want to die?
Horatio Spafford who wrote this song was a successful lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago. He and his wife, Anna, had one son and four daughters and lived a life of philanthropy and service. In 1871, their four-year-old son died of scarlet fever and then the great Chicago fire wiped out most of their property investments. Then came 1873, and more heartbreak. They had planned to visit Europe, but due to Horatio’s business, he remained behind. Anna and their 4 daughters were on a ship that struck another vessel and sank rapidly. Only Anna was rescued; and she sent her husband a telegram that read “Saved alone.” Can you imagine the paralyzing grief in his soul?
As Horatio’s ship neared the place where his daughters had drowned, he wrote the lyrics for “It is Well with My Soul.” How can he write this without a deep faith in God. His heart was broken with loss, but his soul was safe with the Lord.
♫♪ Verse 1: “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” ♫♪
The author understood that sorrow & despair come, but hope is coming, look for it! Discouragement will come, but don’t stay there. Our heart will be so sad, but don’t stay there. Someday, you can praise your Savior once again!
♫♪ “Verse 2: Tho’ Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come. Let this blest assurance control that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul ” ♫♪
The Holy Spirit thru Peter prepared us for this. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;” Trials will come, and they may be fierce, fiery trials, harder than anything you have faced before. Be like Job, be like Horatio Spafford, and brace yourself to get through this impossible time. Others have been there, turn to them for strength and wisdom. So you can say, it is well with my soul!
♫♪ Verse 4: “And Lord haste the day when the 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” ♫♪
Are you waiting and ready for that day, do you look to the clouds and think of Jesus returning with power? Will you be terrified when you hear the archangel’s voice and hear the trumpet blast? Or will you welcome the Lord, saying, “It is well with my soul!” https://youtu.be/jcp6w4zaW7U?si=Q-imtgNrGEmk6Dnt
If you haven’t already, please consider reading Katie’s article about suffering and holding onto hope in the Lord as well. https://mustardtrees.com/2025/10/14/the-love-of-god-the-simple-words-of-a-hymn-we-all-know-but-they-hide-a-rich-history/ Ladies, you aren’t alone in the grief, sorrow, pain you are going through, the Lord is near. You can say with confidence, It is well with my soul.
Beautiful song and one of my favorites. My all time favorite is “Living for Jesus” God bless you and thank you for your beautiful words.