It Is Well With My Soul

And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus. (NKJV) Philippians 4:7

For many Christians, a life characterized by God’s peace seems out of reach. It’s a great goal, but it never seems to materialize. It seems possible on Sunday, but when Monday rolls around, it’s just doesn’t happen. Life is just too hectic. Thankfully, the Bible reminds us that peace and harmony can be the rule rather than the exception.

It’s helpful to know over the last 5,500 years of recorded history, only about 290 years have known a time when there was no war. What an amazing statistic! Peace and harmony have not been the norm; war, hostility and aggression have dominated our human existence. So does it surprise us that in our own experience, conflict, fear and frustration dominate our emotions?

Our hymn helps us find an answer to our dilemma, for it takes us to God, the author of peace. Mr. Spafford, the author of our hymn reminds us that life’s storms emanate from the author of discord and disagreement, Satan. But despite Satan’s attacks, Jesus Christ "hath regarded my helpless estate", that is, Christ knows everything about our lives, regardless of how insignificant we may feel. And He loves us!

The power of the love of Jesus Christ is incredible—you just have to focus your mind, that is your intellect and your emotion—on Christ and let Him do His work in your life. It sounds simple—and it really is! As you focus on Christ, you exchange your own attitudes—that is, your fear and frustration—for that of Christ. And then peace will be the reality, not the negative emotions conveyed by Satan and his evil helpers.

You are in a battle. But the Prince of Peace is on your side. Your conscience can be clear. Godly living can be the rule, not the exception. As you focus on the words of this hymn, remember that Jesus Christ can take your sin—the source of your frustration—and eliminate it completely. Your sin has been nailed to the cross. You will sin again, but confess it and then claim the cross of Christ as your sign of victory. Satan has no power over you. Only when you neglect to focus on Christ do Satan’s forces have influence over you!

So, sing this hymn—and memorize Phillipians 4:7. It may take 7 days to learn, but instead of frustration, you will know peace and contentment. It will be "well with your soul!"

Hymn Story:

Horatio G. Spafford was a successful businessman in Chicago in the late 1860s, heavily invested in real estate along the shores of Lake Michigan. The disastrous Chicago fire of 1871 wiped out his holdings. He immediately worked to rebuild the city and assist the many that were left homeless.

In 1873 he arranged to take his family to Europe. He was close to D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey and planned to attend their evangelistic meetings in England, then take a vacation. At the last minute, urgent business kept him home, but he sent his wife and four daughters ahead on the S.S. Ville du Havre, planning to soon follow. The night of November 22, 1873, the Ville du Havre, was struck by an English iron sailing vessel, the Lochearn. The ship sank in 12 minutes. Of the 273 people on board, only 47 of them survived. Mrs. Spafford was found nearly unconscious, clinging to a piece of the wreckage. Their four daughters did not survive. When she reached Cardiff, Wales, she cabled home, "Saved alone, what shall I do?"

Grief-stricken, Horatio immediately started to Europe to join his wife. En route, the captain pointed out the place where he believed the Ville du Havre had gone down. Returning to his cabin, he wrote, "It is well; the will of God be done." He later wrote the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul", based on these words.

Although Spafford in his hymn tells of the comfort that God gives, no matter the circumstance, he does not dwell on tragedy. In the third stanza he directs our attention on Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, and in stanza four, anticipates His Second Coming. As we through faith understand these things, we too can say, "It is well with my soul."

Lyrics:

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, 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

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.

Used with permission: http://www.songsandhymns.org/