This week Michael writes:"It Is Well With My Soul", also known as "When Peace, Like A River", is a hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. First published in Gospel Hymns No. 2 by Ira Sankey and Bliss (1876). This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford's life. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to England with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, to help with D. L. Moody's upcoming evangelistic campaigns. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone …". Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
The original lyrics are:
When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know “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.
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. 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, O my soul! It is well, (it is well), With my soul, (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.
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. It is well, (it is well), With my soul, (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.
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! Blessed hope, blessed rest of 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 the faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, a song in the night, oh my soul! It is well, (it is well), With my soul, (with my soul). It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Horatio Spafford found blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul in the Lord. A question for today is, “Is it well with our soul?” If we look at the world around us and at our own circumstances, we’ll be stressed, depressed and distressed. However, our joy is in the object of our joy ... our joy is in the Lord. Nehemiah 8:10b says, “ This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy is a deliberate choice to position our heart inside of God’s heart. Therefore, Philippians 4:4 says, Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Within the joy of the Lord, although the storm rocks our boat and the waves crash around us, it is well... it is well with our soul.
Let's continue Michael message in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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