1
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul!"
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul!"
It is well with my soul!
It is well, it is well with my soul!
It is well, it is well with my soul!
2
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His Cross, and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His Cross, and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live;
If dark hours about me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
If dark hours about 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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Storrs, Connecticut, United States
I always enjoy reading how various writers are inspired by some particular experience to then write a wonderful hymn. Perhaps none was more tragic than the events that inspired Horacio Spafford to compose the words to the beautiful hymn, “When Peace Like a River. “ Spafford was a successful lawyer, and a friend of D. L. Moody, whose investments and assets were largely wiped out by the Great Chicago Fire. His only son also died from scarlet fever. Wanting to have some time away and to regroup, he decided to take his wife and four young daughters on an extended trip to Europe, where he also planned to assist Moody with one of his evangelistic tours. They booked a ship voyage across the Atlantic… But at the last minute, Spafford was delayed by urgent business. He decided to send his family on ahead of himself and planned to re-join them as quickly as he could. His wife and four girls set sail… But several days later he received a rather terse telegram from his wife: “only I survived. ” The ship had collided with another vessel, in the middle of the ocean, which thus sent the ship, and most of its passengers to the bottom of the sea. Somehow his wife was saved. Utterly devastated, Stafford, nevertheless headed out on another ship shortly afterwards to meet his wife. As his ship sailed toward the middle of the Atlantic, the captain told Spafford, “this is right about where the ship went down. “ What an overwhelming feeling must have coursed through his body at that moment, thinking that his dearly beloved young daughters were right, then a mile or so beneath him. Rather than being completely crushed, or perhaps, in spite of it, Stafford returned it to his cabin, and penned these lovely words. I don’t know if he ever fully recovered from his losses…but at that moment, at least, he knew that God was in control, and that the Almighty held him close.
Rev. L. Codington
Sangeorz-Bai, Bistrita-Nasaud, Romania
The true hymns were composed in great suffering by the people of God.
very good
Wasilla, AK, United States
The original words penned by Spafford read:
"Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to know,...."
"Know" was later changed to "say" by those of the new age church in the early 1900s. Anyone can say their painful lot is well with their soul to sound like a Christian. But to know it in your heart and gut is something much different. Words are cheap, while knowledge comes from walking out one's faith as did Horatio Spafford.
Esquimalt, BC, Canada
The original hymn has six stanzas as follows:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
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 hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
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!
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.
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!
And Lord, haste the day when the 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.
Meridian, Idaho, United States
I never knew all the stanzas. It is well indeed! Love this!
Perth, W.A., Australia
This is a beautiful hymn, and shows how essential the blessings of the Atonement are. The story of the Spaffords is heartbreaking and inspirational. It, and the song, brought tears to my eyes.
Braga, Portugal
Powerful hymn of comfort and strength. 'It is well with my soul'. Thank You Lord! Amen
Aflao, Ghana
Thoughtful indeed, Lord give us this peace that in all things we will learn to say ," it is well with our souls". Amen
Ikoga, Lagos, Nigeria
Good enough