Video : Story Behind Song ‘It Is Well With My Soul’

You might have heard this beautiful hymn somewhere – It is Well With My Soul. If not, play the above video clip.

The lyrics of the hymn are given at the bottom of this article. Lets know about the origin of this hymn first.

Real Story behind the Hymn :-

Horatio Spafford was a 43 year old lawyer.

He lived in a north side suburb of Chicago, with his wife Anna and his five children.

In 1871, his only son died.

A few months later, The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 consumed Spafford’s real estate investments. He lost his entire life savings.

Two years later, Spafford and his family decided to take a vacation to Europe. However, Spafford was delayed by last minute business. He sent his wife and four daughters on the S.S.Ville Du Havre as scheduled, promising to follow in a few days. On November 22 ,1873  the ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel, and it sank in 12 minutes. 226 people were killed. When the survivors of the shipwreck landed in Europe, Anna Spafford cabled her husband, “Saved alone. What shall I do?”

Spafford immediately left Chicago to bring his wife home.

In the midst of his sorrow, while sailing near the place of his daughters’ death, he wrote the words to the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul”.

In spite of their tragedy, in 1881 the Spaffords moved to Jerusalem to meet the needs of the people. Through their service , the Spaffords were able to share Christ with the local Muslim and Jewish communities.

Lyrics :-

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.

Refrain

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!

Refrain

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.

Refrain

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!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

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.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

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