It Is Well With My Soul

Written By a Modern Day Job

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ² Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; ³ though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Psalm 46:1-3

One of my favorite hymns is “It Is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford.

I recently saw a reference to Spafford’s story on LinkedIn and did some more digging. He is a modern day Job, who lost everything, but still remained faithful.

This incredible story of faith belongs to Horatio Spafford (1828-1888). Much like Job, he placed his trust in God during his life’s prosperity, but also during its calamities. A devout Christian who’d immersed himself in Scripture, many years of his life were joyous. He was a prominent Chicago lawyer, whose business was thriving. He owned several properties throughout the city. He and his beloved wife had four beautiful daughters and one son. Life was more than good — it was blessed.

But faith, no matter how great, does not spare us from adversity.

Just as Horatio hit the pinnacle of his profession and financial success, things began to change. It began with the tragic loss of their son. Not long thereafter, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed nearly every real estate investment Horatio owned.

Just a few years later in 1873, Horatio decided to treat his wife and daughters to a much-needed escape from the turmoil. He sent them on a boat trip to Europe, with plans to join them shortly after wrapping up some business in Chicago. Just a few days later, he received a dreadful telegram from his wife, “Saved alone…” It bore the excruciating news that family’s ship had wrecked and all four of his daughters had perished.

Horatio was on his way to meet his heartbroken wife, passing over the same sea that had just claimed the lives of his remaining children. It was then that he put his pen to paper and the timeless hymn was born, beginning with the words:

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.

Famous hymn composer, Philip Bliss (1838-1876), was so moved by Horatio’s prose, that he composed a peaceful tune to accompany the words. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey, in 1876.

It’s incredible to think such encouraging and uplifting words were born from the depths of such unimaginable sorrow. It’s an example of truly inspiring faith and trust in the Lord. And it goes to show the power our God has to overcome even the darkest times of our earthly life.¹

If only we could all have a faith like Job and Horatio. Thankfully, I believe God works with my imperfect faith. God bless you all.

Dear God, your will be done. Help me to be like Job and Horatio, and worship you in good times and bad. Thank you for the blessings you have given me. Please let it be well with my soul. In your name I pray. Amen.

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God, and turned away from evil. ² There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. ³ He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. ⁴ His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each on his day; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

⁶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. ⁷ The Lord said to Satan, “Whence have you come?” Satan answered the Lord, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” ⁸ And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” ⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nought? ¹⁰ Hast thou not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face.” ¹² And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand.” So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

¹³ Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; ¹⁴ and there came a messenger to Job, and said, “The oxen were plowing and the asses feeding beside them; ¹⁵ and the Sabe′ans fell upon them and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁶ While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁷ While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The Chalde′ans formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” ¹⁸ While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; ¹⁹ and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

²⁰ Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshiped. ²¹ And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

²² In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1 RSVCE

And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause.” ⁴ Then Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵ But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.” ⁶ And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power; only spare his life.”

⁷ So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and afflicted Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. ⁸ And he took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.

⁹ Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die.” ¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:3-10 RSVCE

¹³ “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
¹⁴ If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.
¹⁵ If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
¹⁶ With him are strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
¹⁷ He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.
¹⁸ He looses the bonds of kings, and binds a waistcloth on their loins.
¹⁹ He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
²⁰ He deprives of speech those who are trusted, and takes away the discernment of the elders.
²¹ He pours contempt on princes, and looses the belt of the strong.
²² He uncovers the deeps out of darkness, and brings deep darkness to light.
²³ He makes nations great, and he destroys them: he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
²⁴ He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless waste.
²⁵ They grope in the dark without light; and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. Job 12:13-25 RSVCE

² “I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted. ³ ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ⁴ ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.’ ⁵ I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee; ⁶ therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” … And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:2-6, 10 RSVCE

1. It Is Well With My Soul - Lyrics, Hymn Meaning and Story (godtube.com)