It Is Well With My Soul, Tree Over Mckee's Half Falls

Glimpses of Melody, Nature Sketch by Artist Nancy E Wiist

Music Art It is Well with My Soul Nature Note Card Inspirational gift
 Note Card of original artwork by artist Nancy E Wiist

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

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!

Fore 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
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
The sky, not the grave,is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

And Lord,  Hast the day when the faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trumpet shall sound, and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Author: Horatio G. Stafford 
Written in 1876
photograph for Glimpses of Melody nature sketch on Music artist nancy e waist

The story behind the song.

The great Chicago Fire in a matter of a few hours had destroyed much of Chicago along with Mr. Spafford's a wealthy lawyer real estate holdings. One of first building erected after the fire was the North Side Tabernacle where Mr. Spafford was found helping others in need. Schools took much longer to rebuild, so in November two years after the fire the Stafford family set out for England where the children could be enroll in an English academy for their education.  Just before they were to leave, a last minute business development made it necessary for Mr. Spafford to remain in Chicago. He sent his wife and children on ahead with plans to join them later. The Stafford family arrived safely in New York and boarded the ship Ville de Havre to England, but halfway across the ocean there was a collision between their ship and an English sailing ship and the Ville de Havre sank along with most of those on board, including the Spaffords' four daughters. Mrs. Spafford was found barely conscious clinging to a piece of wreckage. While aboard the rescue ship which was taking survivors to England, she  drafted a short message which was received by her husband in Chicago. 
"Saved, alone."


© Nancy E. Wiist retains copyright to artwork

Comments