It is well

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.


We sang this tonight at church, and I barley made it past this first verse. While not realizing the great impact these words would have on me, my eyes started to swell and I was overcome with a strong sense of nostalgia, history and meaning. My eyes just acted upon memory and started to weep.
This song is so powerful. The lyrics yes, but the way the words flow with such great power and heart is what really makes this hymn epic, and brought me to tears.
I think I sang this song very soon after a friend of mine died.
That’s why it moves me so.
The struggle with saying ‘It is well’ while facing death is what I believe I was re-experiencing.
Horatio Gates Spafford, who wrote this song wrote it in the midst of dealing with the sharp sting of death as well. While doing some research on this hymn tonight, and read something that caught my eye. Soon after the loss of many of their children, and much of their fortune his wife recalled a friend saying; “it's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God." That is the heart of this song.
No matter what scenario you are in, one is always able to say ‘It is well with my soul”.
It is well. Its is well because our soul still has a place with our Father. He is our refuge and strength in a time of need (Psalms 46)
It is well because we can find rest in Him.
It is well still because although pain has hit us here on earth we have eternal hope.
We have hope in what is to come.
We have hope in the Prince of Peace.

In the midst of everything
Its is well, it is well, with my soul.