This well-known hymn tune, ‘It Is Well with My Soul’ was written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. He was not a prolific hymn writer in life, but was a lawyer working in Chicago. Unfortunately, a series of tragic events would lead him away from the life of a lawyer into the life of a missionary.
The Spafford family experienced their first tragedy when one of their sons died, and event that was shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire of 1871. Spafford had several realty investments along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, which meant that the fire brought financial disaster.
Unfortunately, more tragedy was to come.
In 1873, the Spaffords planned a trip to Europe, but, due to last minute business developments, he sent his wife and four daughters ahead on their scheduled ship, the S.S. Ville du Havre, and he planned to follow a few days after. On November 22nd, the ship was struck by another ship, and the ship carrying his family sank in twelve minutes.
Several days later, the survivors of the wreck landed in Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband: “Saved alone.”
The original handwritten manuscript of 'It Is Well with My Soul' by Horatio Spafford
Spafford, of course, joined his wife as soon as he was able after receiving this news, and it is said that he penned the lyrics to this hymn on his journey there. Words filled with sorrow, yet ever clinging to the hope and comfort of God.
It is a song that often comes to mind when times of trouble abound, be it personal or larger scale worries. Sometimes, having faith that things will come through is the best way forward. Things happen. Not necessarily for a reason, but things do happen, and the only thing we can choose is how we get through them.
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