It Is Well With My Soul - original print from The Worship Project.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the story behind this hymn, allow me to introduce you to a story of love, loss, and incredible faith and resilience. This hymn was written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. He was a wealthy business man from Chicago. After the Chicago fire of 1871 had completely destroyed his business and home, he sent his wife Anna and 4 daughters ahead of him, on a ship to France from New York. At around 2am their ship collided with another ship in the mid-Atlantic. It took only 12 minutes for the ship to sink, killing 226 passengers - only 61 passengers survived, one being Horatio’s wife. She was found unconscious on a plank of wood at sea. Once recovered in France, she sent the now-famous telegram to her husband “Saved. Alone.” After receiving Anna’s telegram, Horatio left Chicago to bring his wife home. On the Atlantic crossing, the captain of his ship called Horatio to his cabin to tell him that they were passing over the spot where his four daughters had perished. As he sailed over the waters where his 4 daughters died, Holy Spirit inspired the words to this beautiful hymn, which he wrote on the voyage. “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. It is well, with my soul, It is well, 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! 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.” Wow. What incredible faith and hope amidst such pain, loss, and heartbreak. I pray that no matter where you find yourself today, these words touch your life, and give you the strength to put one foot in front of the other, as you follow Jesus through it all.
The Visual Hymnal #7
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