Verse 1
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul”.Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.Verse 2
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.Verse 3
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!Verse 4
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.Verse 5
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!Verse 6
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,
Even so, it is well with my soul.Horatio G Spafford, c.a. 1873
This beautiful and timeless hymn resonates deeply with me, and its powerful backstory strengthens my faith journey. It is a testament to God’s enduring presence, even amidst adversity.
I’ve had moments of questioning, but hindsight reveals the peace that could have been mine if I’d fully trusted in Him. Let’s not wait for miracles or smooth sailing to acknowledge His steadfast love.
Please read on for the story behind this timeless hymn, sourced from the book “Hymns Volume 1, Daily Grace Co.”
After the Chicago fire of 1871, Horatio Spafford decided to take his family on a vacation to Europe to help Mr. Moody with his evangelistic meetings in Great Britain. He sent his wife and four daughters on ahead overseas, Horatio being detained in America for a short time. Halfway through the trip, their boat collided with another vessel and sank within twelve minutes. His four daughters drowned, leaving Horatio’s wife as one of only a few survivors. Shortly thereafter, Horatio stood on the mast of the ship in deep despair as he headed to meet his grieving wife. As he passed through the waters where his daughters were said to have drowned, a sudden peace swept over him and filed his heart with such comfort that he immediately penned the words of this famous hymn
This hymn is beautifully composed to include all the seasons of life in which we may find ourselves. Peace, loss and grief, trials, sin and redemption, and death. We are quick to give God praise for the times of blessing but often wonder where He is in our tragedy. The answer is that He is there, waiting for us to acknowledge His presence and lean into His strength and comfort. The glorious thought that consumed the author in the middle of his despair was that Christ had nailed all his sin to the cross. Colossians 2:14 says, “[God] erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.” This alone gives us cause to glorify God, even when we may not understand the things He allows. When life does not make sense, let us cling to the cross that provides salvation that we will never be able to fathom.
Study by Cara Cobble Trantham, Daily Grace Co
Psalms 46:1-3 NIV
[1] God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. [2] Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, [3] though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
I’m recovering from a third angiogram that I had done on 12.11.2024! Despite the familiarity of having undergone two already, I still let uncertainty and fear creep in, leading up to yesterday. Reading this devotional and reflecting on God’s word bolstered my courage.
Yesterday’s angiogram showed a more definitive answer: it confirmed a 40% lesion in the LAD, compared to the CTCA scan done over two months ago that said 70%. Happy with that result, so is my family and cardiologist, as it meant no stent this time around.
I’m thankful for God’s omnipotence, constant presence, and infinite wisdom, granting me strength and peace throughout the whole process. I’m eternally grateful for the incredible network of love and support surrounding me – my family, friends, work and church fam, and faithful prayer warriors. May God richly bless each and every one of them.
Philippians 4:13 NIV
[13] I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
To God be the glory always 🙏❤️
Idau Hahine 