"It Is Well with My Soul" by Connie Howard

In 1837, Horatio G. Spafford, a 43 year old lawyer,  lived in Chicago with his wife and 5 children.  In 1871 his only son died and a few months later, the Great Chicago fire destroyed his real estate investments and he lost his entire life savings.  Two years later he decided to take his wife and four daughters to Europe.  Horatio was not able to leave on the ship with his wife and daughters because of business, so he put them on the ship with the promise that he would follow in a few days.  The ship sank on the way to Europe and all four of the daughters died.  His wife, Anna sent a telegram saying, "Saved alone. What shall I do?"

Horatio left for Europe to bring his wife home and in the midst of his sorrow and grief and near the site where his daughters had died, he wrote the hymn, " It Is Well With My Soul".  The Spafford's then moved to Jerusalem where they brought the message of Jesus to the Jews and Muslims.

"It Is Well With My Soul" has always been my favorite hymn and when I heard the story behind the hymn, it took on a whole new meaning for me.  I tried to imagine as a mother if I had lost all of my children within two years, could I stand there and say what he wrote in the first verse? "When Peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrow like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul."  Wow! Then the next 3 verses are nothing more than pure praise and worship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Life is tough and in many cases, just sucks and just because you attend church and proclaim to be a Christian does not mean you will be exempt from life's trials. I and my family have had our fair share of challenges in life, but through all of them, it was my personal relationship with Jesus that carried myself and my family through those times. Verse 3 is the verse that I cling to through my personal challenges, "My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious tho't, 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!"  Is going to church just "Fire Insurance" for you or do you have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ where you can proclaim IN ALL circumstances of life that " IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!!"