It is well with my soul - Chris Rice

I don't know from whence you draw your inspiration and comfort. I receive both from music of certain kinds. Hymns really help me and this is one I love even though we don't sing this one in our worship services.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to know,
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.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for 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!

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

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

In the 1870s, Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer in Chicago and heavily invested in real estate. In 1871, the great Chicago fire destroyed all his downtown investment properties.

In 1873, he and his family planned a vacation trip to Europe. While in Great Britain, he planned to help his good friend Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey, whom he had financially supported, with their evangelistic tour. Spafford sent his wife and four girls—ages 11, 9, 7 and 2—ahead while he finished up last-minute business in Chicago.

On November 22, the S.S. Ville Du Havre struck another ship and sank within twelve minutes. Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband “Saved alone. What shall I do?”

One story claims Horatio Spafford wrote “It Is Well with My Soul” while passing the place in the ocean where his little girls perished in answer to his and his wife's grief at their loss. It is possible he wrote it later in passing through the process of acceptance of ongoing life without them.

Horatio and Anna returned to Chicago, and Horatio II was born.  Little Horatio died at age four of scarlet fever in 1876.

Two years later,Bertha was born.Bertha wrote her parents not only suffered the pain of losing their fortune and five children, but also were plagued by a crisis of faith. Were the children’s deaths a punishment from God? Did He no longer love them? Horatio felt himself in danger of losing his faith.

In 1881, a sixth daughterwas born whom they named “Grace.” Shortly after, the family of four moved to Jerusalem. Horatio explained, “Jerusalem is where my Lord lived, suffered, and conquered, and I wish to learn how to live, suffer, and especially to conquer.”

In Jerusalem the family set up a children’s home. Horatio contracted malaria and while in the grip of malarial fever claimed to be the returned Messiah. He never recovered and died of his illness.

The tune of "It Is Well With My Soul" was written by Philip P. Bliss, which he entitled “Ville du Havre,” the name of the ship whereon were lost Horatio Spafford's four daughters. The hymn was first sung by PhilipBliss before a gathering of ministers November 24, 1876.

A month later, December 29, 1876, Philip Bliss and his wife were traveling to Chicago by train. As the train passed over a trestle near Ashtabula, Ohio, the bridge collapsed and the passenger coaches plunged 75 feet into the icy ravine below. A fire broke out in the wooden cars and both were burned beyond recognition.

In the lives of the men who wrote this hymn could be found the earnest desire to leave the world a better place because they had resided in it and this hymn was written to inspire those who hear it to do their very best during their lives to make the world better.