It Is Well With My Soul

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.

We are all reeling from the images we are seeing of our neighboring communities after Hurricane Helene blew through our region and dropped unprecedented amounts of rain. TVA has stated this was a 1 in 5,000 year event. There has been much loss of life and personal property. With the loss of my nephew fresh on my mind, I have found myself thinking of the words and humming the old hymn "It is Well" frequently. The story behind this hymn (along with the lyrics) tells that the state of our soul is the only thing that truly matters. 

The author, Horatio G. Spafford was a businessman from Chicago. He had a successful legal practice and was a devout Christian.

Spafford’s lost almost everything overnight in the great Chicago Fire of 1871. To add to this tragedy, his young son had just passed away a short time before the fire.

Spafford  had planned a European trip for his family in 1873. In November of that year, due to unexpected last-minute business problems, he had to stay behind in Chicago, but sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled. He expected to meet them in England in a few days.

In a freak accident, the ship carrying his wife and daughters was struck by another ship and sank in just twelve minutes. Mrs. Spafford survived and sent a telegram to her husband after she landed in Wales saying,    "Saved alone."

Spafford left immediately to join his wife. This great hymn was written as he approached the area of the ocean where the ship carrying his daughters went down.

When peace like a river attended 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 (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

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

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll

The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend

Even so, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

Oh it is well, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul

I pray that "It Is Well" with each of our souls.  Truly nothing else matters, as we have witnessed in recent days. If things are not well with your soul, please reach out. I would love to share how you can know that your soul is secure through Jesus' work of redemption. I know our pastor and any of the leadership would be thrilled to share this with you also. Don't wait another day.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Heather Sparks