It is Well

History

It is Well (With my Soul) was a hymn written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. It was written in light of the suffering that he and his family faced. Horatio was a lawyer and buisness owner in Chicago and he and his wife Anna had five children.

In 1871, the first of several tragic events happened when his four year old son died of pnemonia. Later that year, the Great Chicago Fire resulted in major losses to his buisness, but thankfully he was able to recover much of losses. In 1873, while tending to a buisness problem, he stayed in Chicago while his wife and four daughters travelled on a ship to Europe. However, after four days into the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, the ship collided with a larger ship. His wife Anna prayed that God would spare them or make them endure whatever happened to them. Unfortunately Anna survived, but her four daughters did not.

When Horatio found out, he took the next available ship to attend to his grieving wife. It was on this ship that many believe he wrote It is Well. 

The Wedding

Just this past weekend, Michaella and I began to put an alternative plan in place for our wedding this July 4th. With the current restrictions related to COVID-19, we have had to come to terms with the possibility that we will not be able to have all our friends and family gather to celebrate our wedding. It is dissapointing, but we are learning to see what is truly important about our marriage: that we are making a covenant before God. As much as we would like to celebrate with everyone, we are learning to trust in the providence of God, the one who purposed COVID-19 and can bring it to an end. John Piper said: “The same sovereignty that could stop the coronavirus, yet doesn’t, is the very sovereignty that sustains the soul in it” in his new book: Coronavirus and Christ. 

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

As Michaella and I were reflecting and grieving over our wedding plans, I couldn’t help but think of the hymn: It is Well. I think the hardest part about planning our wedding is dealing with the uncertainty of whether Michaellas family, who lives in Switzerland will be able to travel to Canada in July. It was in this moment that I began to hum the lyrics of the hymn that I have learned to treasure so dearly.

V1: “Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say”.

Although my experience pales in comparision to the tragedy of Horatio and his family, the same truth stands. It is well with my soul.

V2: “That Christ has regarded my helpless estate. And has shed His own blood for my soul.”

Jesus Christ went to a cross and suffered the punishment that I deserved. But he did it so that I could have peace with God as Romans 5:1 says. Nothing I experience in this life will compare to the suffering that He endured. I am so thankful for how this hymn not only comforts me in whatever lot I carry, but points to the one who shed His blood for my soul.

The following morning, as Michaella and I gathered to watch the live stream for our church service, the final song of our service was: It is Well (can you believe it?). Michaella simply asked: “Was this the song you were singing last night?” And to that I simply responded: “Yes, it is well!”