It is Well with My Soul

"It is well with my soul" hymn history and lyrics

Hope. Trust. Gratitude.

This hymn is among the best-loved by Christians, and a personal favourite.  Here's a brief biography of Christian lawyer Horatio G. Spafford and history of the poignant and inspiring hymn he wrote, "It is Well with My Soul."

"It is Well with My Soul" becomes closer to heart especially for one undergoing grief, extreme loneliness or pain. Written by a Presbyterian lawyer Horatio G. Spafford in 1873, this deeply touching gospel song has long been loved.

Hymn writer Horatio G. Spafford

This hymn was writ­ten af­ter two ma­jor trau­mas in Spaf­ford’s life. The first was the great Chi­ca­go Fire of Oc­to­ber 1871, which ru­ined him fi­nan­cial­ly (he had been a weal­thy bus­i­ness­man). Short­ly af­ter, while cross­ing the At­lan­tic, all four of Spaf­ford’s daugh­ters died in a col­li­sion with an­o­ther ship. Spaf­ford’s wife Anna sur­vived and sent him the now fa­mous tel­e­gram, “Saved alone.” Sev­er­al weeks lat­er, as Spaf­ford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daugh­ters died, the Ho­ly Spir­it in­spired these words. They speak to the eter­nal hope that all be­liev­ers have, no mat­ter what pain and grief be­fall them on earth.  

Hymn Composer Philip P. Bliss 

Phil­ip P. Bliss composed the music in 1876. The tune is named af­ter the ship on which Spaf­ford’s child­ren per­ished, the S.S. Ville de Havre. Iron­ic­al­ly, Bliss him­self died in a tra­gic train wreck short­ly af­ter writ­ing this mu­sic.

It is Well with My Soul - Performed by FBC Choir and Orchestra

It is Well with My Soul

Words:  Horatio G. Spafford  Music: Philip P. Bliss

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, 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.

Refrain

Lyrics source:

Morgan, Robert J.  Then Sings My Soul. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2003

Video Credit:

It is Well with My Soul, YouTube, uploaded by soldierinkorea2006. Accessed 28 October 2012

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