The words of this song were written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. The original music tune was Ville du Havre and composed by Philip P. Bliss in 1876. The tune is named after the ship on which Spafford’s children perished, the S.S. Ville de Havre. Ironically, Bliss himself, shortly after writing this music, died in a tragic train wreck.
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 him to write these words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth.
- 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
- 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
The story behind the hymn
This hymn followed two major traumatic experiences in the life of Horatio Spafford. 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 him to write these words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth.
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