I will sing of your strength…for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
(Psalm 59:16)
As Julian of Norwich once said, “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.” It is amazing to me that she was able to say that in the midst of the Black Plague during the mid 1300’s. Throughout the ages during times of great distress, people have been able to say, “All shall be well.” Yet I am enamored with Horatio Spafford and how he was able to transform that phrase from “All shall be well” into “It is well” in the midst of personal tragedy. Spafford is the one who wrote they hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first two were the death of his four-year-old son and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone …”. Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul)
Friends, we will get through this time because as Spafford penned:
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
Here’s one of my most favorite versions of this hymn sung by Chris Rice. The words are printed so that you can sing along with it, if you like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbNm_Kdez8o
Parkview is a member of the Presbyterian Church USA.
Last Updated: April 5, 2020 by Office Manager
Mar 26, 2020: It is Well with My Soul
As Julian of Norwich once said, “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.” It is amazing to me that she was able to say that in the midst of the Black Plague during the mid 1300’s. Throughout the ages during times of great distress, people have been able to say, “All shall be well.” Yet I am enamored with Horatio Spafford and how he was able to transform that phrase from “All shall be well” into “It is well” in the midst of personal tragedy. Spafford is the one who wrote they hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first two were the death of his four-year-old son and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone …”. Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul)
Friends, we will get through this time because as Spafford penned:
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
Here’s one of my most favorite versions of this hymn sung by Chris Rice. The words are printed so that you can sing along with it, if you like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbNm_Kdez8o
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Category: Devotionals Tags: Chris Rice, Horatio Spafford, Julian of Nowich, Psalm 59:16
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