‘It Is Well with My Soul’

M y wife’s favorite gospel hymn is “It Is Well With My Soul.”

Do you know the story of this great hymn? This song was written by a man who experienced great pain and loss in his life. His name was Horatio G. Spafford, born in North Troy, New York on 20 October 1828, he became an attorney and moved to Chicago. Through the years he had a successful legal practice and invested in real estate on the frontage of Lake Michigan.

Job, from the Old Testament is an example of God blessing then seemingly withdrawing His blessings.

Job lost all he owned, all that was dear to him, including his children, wealth, and health. When one loses all these, friends disappear and the ones who come calling usually prove no better than Job’s three friends who repeatedly challenged Job, saying he must have done something wrong, must have some unconfessed sin in his life for these terrible things to happen to him and his family. With friends like those, who needs enemies?

What kind of friend are you to those in times of difficulty?

Like Job, Horatio Spafford experienced multitude tragedies.

His son, Horatio, Jr. died of scarlet fever. Soon after, another tragedy. On 8 October of 1871 and lasting three days, the Great Chicago fire burned over 17,500 buildings, killed an estimated 300 people, and left more than 100,000 people homeless.

This fire wiped out a large investment in property made by Horatio. Despite his personal loss, he and his family helped others to recover from the effects of the fire.

As part of a family vacation and an opportunity to work with the great evangelist Dwight L. Moody in England, Horatio’s wife Anna, and their four daughters; Anna, Margaret Lee, Elizabeth and Tanetta boarded the French Steamship the S.S. Ville du Havre for their getaway. Due to unexpected business, Horatio stayed behind in Chicago and would leave as soon as the business details were addressed, he would join his wife and family in Europe.

On 22 November 1873 at 2am, the S. S. Villa du Havre was struck by another vessel the Loch Earn. This collision awoke everyone onboard. As passengers and crew arrived on the main deck, they realized the Villa du Havre was already sinking quickly. Witnesses stated it took only twelve minutes for the ship to sink.

The four Spafford daughters drowned and Anna was found unconscious on floating wood.

Anna was rescued and brought to Cardiff, Wales and immediately sent a telegram to her husband in Chicago stating, “Saved alone what shall I do” She tells of being taken to France and waiting to hear from Horatio. Horatio immediately set out to meet his wife.

While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the Captain of the ship called Horatio up to the pilot house and informed Horatio that they were close to or in the area the S. S.

Villa du Havre sunk into the ocean.

Horatio returned to his cabin with his family’s ordeal in his mind. The words poured out of his heart onto paper, “When sorrows like sea-billows roll – Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.” Spafford expresses his great loss and pain but he does not dwell on these. With his words we see him work through his feelings and submit his thoughts to be under what he knows and has been taught – the Word of God.

The second verse, “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 with my soul. The third verse Spafford acknowledges his sin and wrongdoing and rightly states that once we ask Christ to forgive us, our sin no longer exists, “My sin – O 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!” The fourth verse looks forward, not dwelling on the past or current events enables us to look toward the future; “And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll, The trump shall re-sound and the Lord shall descend, Even so – it is well with my soul. It is well with my soul.”

Everyone experiences tragedy and pain. It has been said that there are three groups of people; First are the people who are just beginning the tragedy in their lives. The second are those who are living their tragedy and the third group are coming out of a tragedy.

Which group are you in?

To be human means we will experience tragedy, pain, and loss, no one escapes this. Though you may be shaken to your core by a tragedy, and though you may feel crushed, forgotten and angry, know that God has great confidence in you and knows that soon it will be well with your soul.

As Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:44-45).

Tragedy, sorrow and pain is not God picking on you, they are but one way God reaches out to you, drawing you closer to Him, desiring that you depend on Him and not your abilities, health or wealth.

With all the social unrest, virus fears, fake news, rumors of wars, our economy in shambles and the upcoming election, is it well with your soul? If it is not, it can be well with your soul.

Clayton Adams has a message of faith he would like to share with the community. He would also like to hear from you. E-mail clayton padamsiii@gmail.com.

Clayton Adams