Monday, December 31

It Is Well With My Soul

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Christians are not immune from sorrows in this world. This was made clear to Adam and Eve when they were thrown out of the Garden of Eden for disobeying God. God placed a curse on the ground and misery, death, and trouble became a part of human life on the earth. Due to original sin, man fell out of fellowship with God and became unable to restore this fellowship in and of himself. However, God in his mercy provided a way that man could be reconciled spiritually to a state of fellowship with God. God did this by giving his only son to be a sacrifice for the sins of all who believe in him for the free gift of eternal life. This spiritual truth is what led Paul to write, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

This rhetorical question points out that nothing or no one can harm or change the spiritual well being of all who trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life. In this physical life there will be many hardships and sorrows, but no matter what comes their way Christians can say, “It is well with my soul.”

Horatio G. Spafford wrote the hymn below shortly after he lost all four of his daughters in a ship collision in the Atlantic Ocean about two years after losing his only son to Scarlet fever. His wife survived and though they were grief stricken, he wrote the words to this powerful beloved hymn as his ship passed the spot where the ship his family was on sunk. What a comfort it is to know that God is for those that have been called according to his purpose and nothing in this physical world or in the spiritual realm can separate believers from the love of God. Praise and thank God that it is well with the souls of believers even as sorrows roll in like sea billows.


It is Well With My Soul
By: Horatio G. Spafford

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.
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.
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

He lives--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, Oh my soul.
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

And, Lord, haste the day when our 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...
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...


6 comments:

mark pierson said...

"Horatio G. Spafford wrote the hymn below shortly after he lost all four of his daughters in a ship collision in the Atlantic Ocean about two years after losing his only son to Scarlet fever."

I first read of this years ago. I still can't sing that hymn. I have nothing else to say...

jazzycat said...

This was a great illustration of faith and accepting God's providence. Some of these hymns contain great doctrine that touch the heart in special ways.

donsands said...

"My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more."

I heard Alistair Begg say the reason this truth brought comfort to his soul was that his daughters have recently committed their lives and hearts to Christ.

Thanks for sharing this Wayne. It helps lift my heart.

Susan said...

I am so glad to say "It is well with my soul" and I can only say that because Jesus is my Lord and my Savior.

Happy 2008 to you Wayne.
Susan

jazzycat said...

Susan and Don,
Thanks so much. We do have a lot to take comfort in when we focus on Christ.

Anonymous said...

Great post. Great song. Thanks for encouragement.