THE STORY OF THE “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL”

In the 1800s, Horatio Gates Spafford was a lawyer and a wealthy man. He was fortunate to have five children. Tragic events struck his family, much as they did in the family in the Old Testament. Scarlet fever killed his 4 sons. Then, a year later, a major fire destroyed all of his Spafford had intended to travel to England with his family and great friend, evangelist Dwilight L. Moody, two years later.

Due to a business agreement, he was unable to join his family, so he sent his wife and the four children, Anna (11 years), Margaret (9 years), Lee (5 years), and Tanetta (2 years), aboard the Ville du Havre (ship), unaware that further catastrophe would befall them.

Ville du Havre was travelling across the Atlantic when it was struck by an iron sailing ship, and it sank into the deep sea within 12 minutes, killing 226 people, including its four loving daughters.

Anna Spafford, his wife, was one of the few survivors. “Saved alone, what to do?” she telegraphed her husband once the survivors arrived in Cardiff, South Wales.

On his way to visit his wife, Horatio Spafford was summoned to the deck by the captain, who showed him the exact location where Ville du Havre had sunk and where his daughters had perished.

The voyage was a painful one for Horatio, and he went to his cabin and wrote,

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.

His faith in God never wavered amidst his grief and sorrow. Anna’s half-sister received a telegram from Horatio saying,

“On Thursday last, we passed over the spot where she went down, in mid-ocean, the

waters three miles deep. But I do not think

of our dear ones there. They are safe….. dear lambs.”

Anna gave birth to three more children, but one of the children died at the age of four. In 1881, Spaffords left America, settled in Jerusalem to serve and care for the sick, and took in homeless children. He died of Malaria in Jerusalem, and his wife Anna continued to serve the people, sharing God’s love until she died. Surely, “It is well with their souls.”

Horatio’s friend, Phillip Bliss, composed music for the poem Horatio wrote. It was sung as a new hymn at Dwight L. Moody’s crusades, and thus, the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” was born.