It Is Well

In November, 1873, Horatio Spafford sent his wife and four daughters on the French ship Ville du Havre from their home in Chicago to a vacation in France, planning to set out a few days later himself. Somewhere in the Atlantic, the Ville du Havre collided with a British ship coming the other way, and sank in just 12 minutes. Of his family, only Spafford’s wife survived. Spafford took the next boat over, and as he passed the spot where the ship went down, began to write, “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll,” and continued until he had the text, “It is well with my soul.” His good friend, Philip Bliss, composed the tune for his words, naming it after the ship, VILLE DU HAVRE. In this hymn, Spafford has given all of us words of comfort and assurance in times of physical and spiritual crisis, paraphrasing those familiar words of Julian of Norwich: “And all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”[1]

On a personal note, as a child growing up, this was one of my favorites because the piano player, Mrs. Bonnie McCormick, on the last refrain of the song would just make this song come alive. She was an incredibly talented pianist and organist. This was among the top songs I loved to hear her play. As I sing it in various congregations, I can hear her playing it as when I was a child. My brother Craig plays it very similar to her today.

It Is Well Lyrics

The Theology

Similar to many of our most beloved hymns, the theology of this song shifts from the sorrow of circumstances on earth to the hope of heaven. In this hymn, of course, the constant echo throughout is, “It is well with my soul.”

In the midst of life’s most difficult circumstances, because of Jesus Christ, it is well with my soul.

In my helplessness and weakness as a human, because of Jesus Christ, it is well with my soul.

Even in the ugliness of personal sin and struggle, because of Jesus Christ, it is well with my soul.

And, someday, when Jesus determines our days on earth are over, because of Jesus Christ, it is well with my soul.

Yes, yes, yes. Praise God that He has made it well with our soul.

The Author and Story of the Song

Late in 1873 Horatio G. Spafford (b. North Troy, NY, 1828; d. Jerusalem, 1888) and his family were scheduled to travel from the United States to Europe. Delayed by pressing business, Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead on the French liner Ville du Havre. The ship collided with the English ship Lochearn on November 22 and sank in just twelve minutes. Spafford’s wife was saved, but his daughters perished. After arriving in Wales, Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, “Saved alone.” Spafford then left by boat to meet her. Near the tragic scene on the high seas he wrote this text. Upon hearing the news, evangelist Dwight L. Moody, a friend of the Spaffords, traveled to England to comfort them. He reported that Spafford said about the tragic event, “It is well; the will of God be done.” Philip P. Bliss, another family friend, wrote the tune for Spafford’s text. Both text and tune were published in Gospel Hymns No. 2 (1876), a hymnal compiled by Ira D. Sankey and Bliss.

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). 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. Spafford became acquainted with Dr. Piazza Smith, a Scottish astronomer, and through him became interested in biblical archeology. 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. 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.

Enjoy This Media

Some groups singing the song from YouTube:

Enjoy listening to Guy Penrod and David Phelps sing this beautiful song along with Gaither Homecoming singers from Jerusalem.

Classic congregational singing of all four verses.

Here is the earliest published copy of the song from Gospel Hymns No. 2, song #76 from 1876 [4]:

This hymnbook where it first was published was edited by Ira D. Sankey and P.P. Bliss, who also was the composer.

 

Here is a more modern version from Favorite Hymns of Praise #73 [6]:

 

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