It Is Well

A Lot of people don't know the story behind my favorite hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul". It was written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. A few years earlier he and his family had endured the loss of their only son to scarlet fever and then lost the majority of their wealth after the Chicago fire. In 1873, Horatio and his wife Anna, along with their four daughters, planned a trip to Europe to benefit Anna's failing health and to assist D. L. Moody and Ira Sankey with a revival in England. They were scheduled to sail on the steamer Ville du Havre.  Due to a business emergency Horatio ended up having to stay behind, but sent his family ahead. On November 22, 1873 the Ville du Havre was struck by a British iron sailing ship, the Lockhearn. The Ville du Havre, with Anna Spafford and her daughters aboard, sank within twelve minutes. Only 81 of the 307 passengers and crew members survived. Anna was among them. She was taken to Cardiff, Wales where she telegraphed her husband "Saved alone. What shall I do...". As soon as he received Anna's telegram, Horatio left Chicago to bring his wife home. While sailing across the Atlantic the captain of the ship called Horatio to the bridge and informed him that "A careful reckoning has been made and I believe we are now passing the place where the Ville du Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep." That night, alone in his cabin Horatio wrote the words to his famous hymn, "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.

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!


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.

The verse I put in bold is my favorite. It gives me goosebumps and I get teary-eyed every time I sing it. This hymn has meant a lot to our family throughout the last few years. I think about what Horatio endured and how he was still able to praise God and write such beautiful words and I tell myself "suck it up, Kristen!". That's my way less righteous way of saying it is well with my soul. Suck it up! Our hope is not in this life! Though the sorrows like sea billows roll, someday the clouds will roll back, the trumpets will sound, and we will have rest for our souls. I'm so flipin' excited I can hardly stand it!!! Note the use of bold and italics.