There are many beautiful hymns that can really stir you. And there are many hymns that have incredible stories behind them. One hymn that has both of these aspects is the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul.” This hymn is filled with some powerful words, but when the story is taken into account then it takes on an even bigger meaning.
Written by Haratio Spafford. He and his wife Anna had 5 children. They had one son, the oldest, and four girls. in 1871, shortly before the great Chicago fires, his oldest son died. Then because of the great Chicago fires he was all but ruined financially. In 1873 he planned to travel to Europe with his family. Just before they were to leave, he was delayed with some business. So he sent his family to Europe and was going to leave a few days later and meet them there. During the trip across the Atlantic, the ship that his family was on had a collision with a sailing ship and sank very quickly. All four of his remaining children died. His wife Anna survived and sent him a letter with only two words written on it, “Saved Alone.” While Spafford was sailing to meet his grieving wife he passed the place where his four daughters died. It was there where he pinned these words:
” When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrow like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.”
August 20, 2009 at 7:11 pm |
I have enjoyed reading this story. I have heard this story many times and every time I hear it, it seems to speak to me even more. I may never go through some of the same dangers that this man went through but I have had my time of trials and will continue to have them. But I know that whatever I am going through now or later, it is well with my soul because He is there and has already been there.