It is well with my soul

This inspirational hymn was written by Horatio Spafford (1828 - 1888).  He and his wife, Anna, were devout Christians, and Horatio was a successful lawyer.  They had four daughters, and they were close friends of the famous preacher, D L Moody.

In 1871, Horatio and Anna lost a lot of their wealth when the Great Fire of Chicago destroyed many of the properties they had invested in.  Two years later, they planned a trip to Europe.  Their friend Moody was going on a preaching tour of England, and Horatio and Anna and their daughters were to go with him.  But business problems meant that Horatio stayed behind when Anna and their daughters caught the steamer to cross the Atlantic.

Tragically, the steamer carrying Anna and their four daughters collided with another ship and sank.  All four of the girls were drowned; only Anna survived.  Horatio got on the next ship from New York to go and join her in the UK.  The captain of his ship knew his story, and he told Horatio when they reached the place where the shipwreck had happened.  Horatio went back to his cabin, and wrote this hymn.

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 (it is well),
with my soul (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 His 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 pain shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to 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.

I came across this recording recently- it omits the second and fourth verses, but is a powerful recording by Lynda Randle.