It acknowledges that both our earthly trials and spiritual sorrows are not far and removed from each other, but that through the suffering of Christ and the power of the cross, all of our own sufferings, spiritual, emotional, and physical, will one day be removed. While the first stanza seems fairly autobiographical of the tragedy at sea (“when sorrows like sea billows roll”), as a whole, the text speaks to our assurance of hope in the midst of all trials.
In 1881 he, his wife, and some friends moved to Jerusalem and founded an American colony there the family's story was told by another daughter, Bertha Spafford Vester, in Our Jerusalem.Īs a testimonial hymn, often after tragic events, when we want to confess our faith in God's providence even when we don't understand the "whys" of life.Īlmost every hymnal keeps the original four verses and refrain unaltered. Heavy losses in the Chicago fire of 1871, the death of his four daughters in 1873, and the death of his son in 1880 caused Spafford to be accused of some secret sin by uncharitable church members. Piazza Smith, a Scottish astronomer, and through him became interested in biblical archeology. Active in the YMCA and as a Sunday school teacher, he served as director and trustee for the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of the Northwest in Chicago. In 1856, several years before writing this text, Spafford had moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he established a law practice and became a professor of medical jurisprudence at Lind University (now the Chicago Medical College). This hymn has brought comfort to many Christians. 3).The final stanza affirms that it will also be "well with my soul" on the great day of Christ's return. That experience of trust and peace derives from knowing with certainty that Christ has paid the penalty for "my sin, not in part, but the whole" (st.
Even in the face of "sorrows" and Satan's temptations, the Christian believes "it is well with my soul" (st. The text conveys a sense of trust and ultimate peace with God's plan for our lives. Both text and tune were published in Gospel Hymns No. Bliss, another family friend, wrote the tune for Spafford's text. He reported that Spafford said about the tragic event, "It is well the will of God be done." Philip P. Moody, a friend of the Spaffords, traveled to England to comfort them. Upon hearing the news, evangelist Dwight L. Near the tragic scene on the high seas he wrote this text. Spafford cabled her husband, "Saved alone." Spafford then left by boat to meet her.
Spafford's wife was saved, but his daughters perished. The ship collided with the English ship Lochearn on November 22 and sank in just twelve minutes. Delayed by pressing business, Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead on the French liner Ville du Havre. Jerusalem, 1888) and his family were scheduled to travel from the United States to Europe.
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