With the death of an infant through fever, followed by the Chicago fire in the late 1800’s, which destroyed their business, it is true to say Horatio Spafford and his wife, Anna, were struggling. They received a message from their friend D L Moody, the famous evangelist. He invited them over to Europe to work with him and to take a well-earned holiday. They took the advice.
Spafford had a few business deals to finish, so he sent his wife and four daughters ahead on a ship, intending to travel later.
The ship sank.
As they travelled past where the first ship had gone down, the Captain pointed
it out to Spafford. Quietly, Spafford left the Bridge, went down to his cabin
and picked up his pen. The result was the famous hymn ‘It is well With My Soul’:
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.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
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.
Further Reading:
