Horatio Gates Spafford is was a man with profound experience in life's tragedies. Some of these tragedies were tragedies of humanity. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871 during which he lost all his worldy possessions. Still, he and his wife put their own loss aside and dedicated themselves to helping other victims recover. Then, only a short time afterwards, another human tradegy: while on a transatlantic trip, his four daughters were killed when another ship collided with theirs.
He wasn't on the ship, but his wife was. His wife survived, sending him that desparate telegram: "Saved alone". Later, when he crossed the Atlantic and passed the area where his daughters were lost, the Holy Spirit inspired him to write these famous, hopeful, and most inspiring words:
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
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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.
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