April 10, 2006
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A discussion theme has prompted me to share one of my favorite hymns, “It Is Well With My Soul”,
and the oft-repeated story behind it. I never tire hearing of the Grace of God shown in the author’s
heart as he composed this wonderful hymn on the heels of incredible grief. Here is the story as retold
in Christian History Institutes Bulletin #64
IN THE 1870s Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago lawyer and a close friend of evangelist
Dwight L. Moody.Spafford had invested heavily in real estate, but the Chicago fire of 1871 wiped out his
holdings. His son had died shortly before the disaster.
Spafford and his family desperately needed a rest so in 1873 he planned a trip to Europe with his wife and
four daughters. While in Great Britain he also hoped to help Moody and Sankey with their evangelistic tour.
Last minute business caused Spafford to delay his departure, but he sent his wife and four daughters
on the S.S. Ville Du Havre as scheduled, promising to follow in a few days. On November 22 the ship was
struck by the English ship Lochearn, and it sank in twelve minutes. Several days later the survivors landed
at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband the brief message, “Saved alone.”
(Jimmish comment: “In another account it
is reported that her message was the plaintive “Saved alone. What shall I do?”)
When Horatio Spafford made the ocean crossing to meet his grieving wife, he sailed near the place
where his four daughters had sunk to the ocean depths. There, in the midst of his sorrow, he wrote
these unforgettable words that have brought solace to so many in grief:
Here are the lyrics:
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.
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.
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!
Blessèd hope, blessèd 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 is well with my soul.
The versions playing in the background are by
Jars of Clay, from their album
Redemption Songs, and Phil Driscoll, from Classical Hymns, vol. 2
Edit: Monday, 5:55pm..
I’ve added the Jennifer Knapp/Audio Adrenaline
and the 4Him renditions…enjoy!
May we all bless God so resolutely
and sweetly in trials or triumphs
blessings…Jim
Comments (32)
I’m such a traditionalist (more than I like to admit), that this Jars of Clay version is different than I’m used to — enough that it had to grow on me…and it has:) I can nearly hear a Beatles’ influence in it…:) May it reach the new generation in a way the old version would not:) For we all need to learn to praise God, in good and bad times (Jim, you’d laugh if you knew what just crossed my mind… an analogy between that and ”sticking together” in another kind of good or bad of life), young or old! Thank you for posting that! in Him, Gerrie
I love the story and the hymn.
Larry
I agree, Gerrie. For those like me who remember the “Liverpool” and “Mersey” sounds of the 60′s, it seems oto have some of that ring….I’m going to be putting other versions up as I get the files converted.
Yes, I so loved this story behind the hymn. There are so many other similar stories that so touches my soul! At my university we have things called “Cultural Events” where most of the time it is concerts, art exhibits and fictional plays; however, last year a lady came to do a “One woman show”. In this show was the story of four women who had written hymns and the stories behind the hymns. I was so moved by that event! The lady works for the salvation army doing plays, etc.
thanks for the story, it nevers grows old. As for the version, at first I thought it was a young beatles song….
I always enjoy hearing the stories behind the hymns, they are so rich and inspiring. Thanks for sharing that with us today.
Blessings,
Mike
This made me cry. Thank you for sharing. And it goes with what I came over to say:
RYC: The pic is the view from the High Tower of my Castle.
The Phil Driscoll version is quite majestic! At first I was disappointed it was only instrumental. But then it didn’t matter.Looking forward to hearing the others you put up. Just might be it doesn’t matter which version it is, I just will love them all because I love the hymn:) Thank you:) Gerrie
Thanks for your comments, ryc, dunno about the celebrity thing…haha
Mike
I have played hockey every now when we go to the local ice rink. My aunt and uncle got me on roller blades when I was 10 playing street hockey, which I extremely enjoyed. But mainly I watch minor league and youth league hockey.
It’s hard to imagine the pain that man was feeling when he wrote the song…and yet the peace of God that passes all understanding, is so hard to comprehend. I love this song
In Him who is in Me!
Jake
Tis a good song, Jim.
Blessings to you! Thanks for the touching story. The song is one of my favorite’s! God is good to us!
GBU!
ryc: Oh goody! Can’t wait to hear more:) was reading a lovely email when I heard the ding of your comment posting:) I think it’s so much fun to hear different versions of a song one right after another… kinda mind-expanding! bless you for finding all of this, wowee — I’d love to see YOUR music library (mine’s small but growing)!! in Him, Gerrie
Just listened to 4Him and Audio Adrenaline… I think I still like the Jars of Clay one best… but I like them all for different reasons. I’m shocked that they change the melody so much, but that’s been true of even old famous folk songs, too. I must think outside the box…I must think outside the box, I must think outside the box….
:) God bless, Gerrie
RYC – I haven’t read that C.S. Lewis book. That’s neat that he used that same analogy.
Somehow, knowing the story, helps me to sing it. thx
k
Thank you for sharing that after the discussion about him. What an amazing faith that man had. It gives me hope that my faith will someday rely on God so fully that nothing will compare, even my grief. Thanks again. And God Bless you!
And trials and blessings do come!
Thank you for your comments on my poetry…and with regards to ‘just fine’…no, the character here is ‘fine’ in the sense that they know the choice they made is right, even though it hurts. So they are fine because they know they will be okay in the end. I so appreciate your words!
I bought my first car in 1976, it was a ’72 Datsun 1200, pedestrians could outrace me through intersections, hahaha
I love the story and hymn..I LOVE YOUR MUSIC..Underline three times!!
I can’t believe you owned a FIAT600..They are SO RARE to see ,even here!!..KEWL,Jim!! Really Kewl!!
A SUPERHUG,
Lucy
I find myself coming back to hear the Jars of Clay one, because it is just as comforting and pretty as Extiende Tu Mano is. Is the rest of the (Jars) album as good? I got the Third Day album just because of the song “Communion” you had posted here before…some of their songs take some getting used to:) Music feeds my soul. in Him, Gerrie
I also find that Third Day has a range of effects on me. I have another of the Jars songs from the “Redemption Songs” album which you’ve probably heard..It’s “Nothing But the Blood”, which I believe they sing together with the group, Blind Boys of Alabama. It’s on my usual music player on this page. It’s a good CD (IMHO, meaning it suits my tastes), some of the songs I like better than others, but it’s almost all traditional hymns reworked.
blessings, Jim
Happy Early Easter! I am wishing you happy easter early as I will be out of town and helping my fiance move from his parents’ house to his new place this weekend.
Thanks for the link for the old cars, very interesting..I like your sayings, very funny. Did you ever see the Grumpy Old Men movies, I believe it was the 2nd one, there is a scene where the driver is going so slow pedestrians and bikers were going faster, that’s what I was thinking. My ’72 Datsun leaked transmission fluid and I had to keep several jugs on hand, when it got low, white smoke would billow forth from the car….ah, good times!
Mike
My first car was a FIAT 500 No automatic ANYTHING..It was kinda wild to drive…lol
Blessings, Jim..
A hug,
lucy
I discovered something FUN about the Jars of Clay version (who can sit still with that Mersey beat going?:) I wasn’t even down in the dumps and started dancing to it, and wowee, it was even more uplifting that way! And you know it’s even scientific, it hits all three modes of learning, auditory (listening), kinesthetic (dancing), and visual (if you look at the words and sing along with it:)! Try it, and even with other worship music, too, dancing to the music cheers you up even if you’re not down! For those of you reluctant to do such a “wild” thing, King David used to dance to the Lord, so why can’t we?
:) Blessings to you as you dance to the Lord! Gerrie
I just found a new way to uplift your soul with the Jars of Clay version. Dance to it! King David danced to the Lord, why shouldn’t we? And it’s scientific, too, you learn more when you use more than one “mode”: listening with your ears, and kinesthetic dancing with your body, and even visual if you’re reading the words and singing along! And who can sit still listening to the Mersey beat?
in Him, Gerrie
Sorry for the repeat, I looked and didn’t see the comment so thought I didn’t do it right! Pick one and delete it:)
Oh how I needed this today… thank you.
One of my favorite hymn and story times is this one, Jim. Thank You. My favorite version of the story is the Adventures In Oddesy. They did a great radio drama of the history of It Is Well With My Soul.
cowboy