Its well with our soul

                                   IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

         I love hymns so much, not because I was born in the Anglican Church or that my grandfather was a Reverend but because hymns are melodious, deep and inspiring. It gives u a kind of a preview to what it’s like in heaven. My best worship and praise songs are hymns, no wonder I have hymn books both in English and Yoruba. We sing these songs without knowing the story or inspiration behind the compositions.

         One of the most emotional and soul lifting hymn of all times is the hymn ALL WILL BE WELL, composed by Horatio Spafford (Oct 20 1820-Oct 16 1888). He was a prominent lawyer in Chicago; he composed this song after a great tragedy in which he lost four of his daughters. Can you imagine such a man still having a great hope and trust in God?

         Horatio spafford married Hannah spafford on sept 5 1861 in Chicago. The Spaffords began their tragic experiences with the death of their only son from scarlet fever at the age of four in 1870; they lost all of their investment in real estate to the great Chicago fire of 1871. Then the biggest trial! In 1873, Spafford decided that his family should go to England for a holiday; he couldn’t go with them due to some business engagements so he sent his wife and four daughters ahead with the plan to join them later.  11 year old Anna,

9yr old Margaret Lee, 5yr old Elizabeth, 2yr old Tanetta all perished in the tragedy.

        “On November 22, 1873, while crossing the Atlantic on the steamship Ville du Havre, their ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel and 226 people lost their lives including all four of spafford’s daughters. Hanna Spafford survived the tragedy” Wikipedia     

        Horatio wrote the song on his way to England to meet the wife after receiving a telegram from her. “Survived alone”. The couple later gave birth to three more children.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot thou has thought me to say

Its well it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

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

Though satan 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.

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!

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.

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

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’s well with my soul.

 

                 So people of God, even in this dark time in our country and some individual lives, let’s have faith in God that all is well. What other choice do we have anyway. May God almighty give us the strenght and enablement to trust in Him at all times. Shalom.