It Is Well With My Soul

"It Is Well With My Soul" is one of the most powerful hymns ever written. The man who wrote it, Horatio Spafford, had just lost his four daughters in a tragic shipwreck. As his ship passed over the spot where they died, he wrote these famous words. How could someone say "it is well" after such terrible loss? The answer is found in the Bible verses that teach us about God's peace—a peace that doesn't depend on our circumstances but on God's unchanging character.

The Story Behind the Hymn

In 1873, Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer in Chicago. He and his wife Anna had five children. But in just a few years, tragedy struck over and over. Their young son died of scarlet fever. Then the Great Chicago Fire destroyed most of their property. Needing rest, the family planned a trip to Europe. At the last minute, Horatio had to stay behind for business. He sent his wife and four daughters ahead on a ship called the Ville du Havre.

Nine days later, Horatio received a telegram from his wife with just two words: "Saved alone." Their ship had collided with another vessel in the Atlantic Ocean. All four of their daughters drowned. Anna survived. When Horatio sailed to meet his wife, the captain told him when they were passing over the place where his daughters had died. Standing on that spot, Horatio wrote the words that would become this famous hymn. Even in his deepest pain, he could say "it is well with my soul" because of the truths he found in God's Word.

Peace That Passes Understanding

The Bible teaches that God offers a special kind of peace. It's not the kind of peace that only comes when everything is going well. It's a peace that can exist even in the middle of terrible circumstances.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

— Philippians 4:6-7

This verse gives us the secret to peace. Instead of worrying, we're told to pray about everything. When we do this, God gives us a peace that "transcends all understanding." That means it doesn't make sense to other people. How can you have peace when things are falling apart? Because God's peace isn't based on your situation—it's based on His presence with you.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

— John 14:27

Jesus promises to give us His peace. But notice He says it's different from the peace the world offers. The world says you can have peace when everything is perfect. Jesus says you can have peace even when everything is broken. His peace doesn't depend on external circumstances but on His presence in your life.

What "It Is Well" Really Means

When we say "it is well with my soul," we're not saying everything is fine or that we're not hurting. Horatio Spafford was devastated by his losses. But he knew that even in his pain, his relationship with God was secure. His daughters were with God. His eternal hope was intact. The most important things—his soul, his faith, his future—were still well.

This is different from toxic positivity, which pretends bad things aren't really that bad. "It is well" acknowledges the pain but also declares that God is still good, still in control, and still worthy of trust.

God's Presence in Our Trials

The Bible doesn't promise that life will be easy. In fact, Jesus told His followers they would face trouble in this world. But He also promised that we would never face it alone.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

— John 16:33

Jesus is completely honest here. He doesn't promise an easy life. He says "you will have trouble"—not you might have it, but you will. Yet right in the same breath, He tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world. Our peace comes from knowing that no matter what happens, Jesus has already won the ultimate victory.

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

— Psalm 23:4

This famous psalm doesn't say we won't go through dark valleys. It says we walk through them. The difference is that we don't walk alone. God is with us. The psalmist doesn't fear evil, not because there is no danger, but because God is present. It's His presence that brings comfort, not the absence of difficulty.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

— Psalm 34:18

God doesn't distance Himself when we're hurting. He comes closer. When your heart is broken and your spirit is crushed, that's when God is nearest. He doesn't stand far away telling you to be stronger. He sits with you in your pain and holds you up when you can't stand on your own.

Trusting God When We Don't Understand

One of the hardest parts of going through difficult times is not knowing why. Horatio Spafford probably asked "why?" many times. But the Bible teaches us that we can trust God even when we don't understand His plan.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

— Proverbs 3:5-6

This verse tells us not to lean on our own understanding. We don't have to figure everything out. We don't have to understand why bad things happen. What we need to do is trust God's heart even when we can't understand His plan. He promises to guide us even when the path doesn't make sense to us.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

— Isaiah 55:8-9

God sees things we can't see. He understands things we can't grasp. His perspective is like looking at the earth from space compared to standing on one street corner. We see our small piece of the story. He sees the whole picture. This means there will be times when we can't understand what God is doing, and that's okay. We can trust His wisdom even when we don't have our own answers.

Hope Beyond This Life

Part of what allowed Horatio Spafford to say "it is well" was his hope in eternity. He knew his daughters weren't gone forever. He would see them again. The Bible gives us this same hope.

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."

— 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

This passage doesn't say we won't grieve. Of course we will—grief is a natural response to loss. But it says we don't grieve without hope. Those who have died in Christ will be raised with Him. Death isn't the end of the story. For believers, it's just a pause before an eternal reunion.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

— Revelation 21:4

This verse describes our future hope. One day, all the pain and suffering we experience now will be over. God Himself will wipe away our tears. Every loss, every heartbreak, every sorrow will be replaced with perfect joy. This promise helps us endure present suffering because we know it's temporary.

The Difference Between Faith and Feelings

It's important to understand that saying "it is well with my soul" is an act of faith, not a description of how we feel. Horatio Spafford felt devastated. He felt the crushing weight of grief. But his faith told him a different truth—that despite his feelings, his soul was secure in God's hands.

Our feelings are real and valid. God doesn't ask us to pretend we're not hurting. But our faith can be stronger than our feelings. We can acknowledge our pain while also declaring our trust in God. Both things can be true at the same time.

God Works All Things for Good

The Bible makes an incredible promise: God can take even the worst things that happen to us and work them for good. This doesn't mean the bad things themselves are good. It means God is powerful enough to bring good out of them.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

— Romans 8:28

This verse says "all things"—not just the good things or the easy things. God can take every single thing that happens in our lives and somehow work it for our good. He doesn't cause all things, but He can use all things. This gives us hope that our pain won't be wasted. God will find a way to bring something meaningful from it.

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

— Genesis 50:20

This is Joseph speaking to his brothers who had sold him into slavery years earlier. He acknowledges that what they did was intended to harm him. But God had a different intention. He used that terrible experience to save many lives. Sometimes we only understand how God worked things for good when we look back years later. Other times we may not understand until heaven. But we can trust that He's working even when we can't see it yet.

Practical Ways to Find Peace in Trials

Understanding these truths in our heads is one thing. But how do we actually experience peace when we're going through something terrible? Here are some practical steps:

Be honest with God: You don't have to pretend everything is fine. Tell God exactly how you feel. The Psalms are full of raw, honest prayers. God can handle your anger, your questions, and your pain. Start there.
Remember what you know is true: Your feelings will go up and down. But God's character doesn't change. When you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself of what you know about God—that He's good, He's with you, and He loves you. Write these truths down and read them when you need to.
Look for God's presence, not His explanation: You might never understand why something happened. But you can always find God with you in the middle of it. Look for small signs of His presence—a friend who calls at just the right time, a verse that speaks to your heart, a moment of unexpected peace.
Let others help: When Horatio Spafford's daughters died, he had his wife Anna to grieve with him. God often brings His comfort through other people. Don't try to go through hard times alone. Let your church, your friends, your family walk with you.
Choose trust one moment at a time: You don't have to trust God for your whole future right now. Just trust Him for this moment. Then the next moment. Then the next. Take it one day, one hour, one minute at a time.

What "Well" Really Means

When we sing "it is well with my soul," we're making a declaration that goes beyond our current situation. We're saying several important things:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

— Romans 8:38-39

This is what "well" means at its core. No matter what happens—death, life, present troubles, future fears—nothing can separate us from God's love. Our souls are well because our connection to God is secure. Nothing in all of creation can break that bond. That's the ultimate "wellness" that matters.

Conclusion

The hymn "It Is Well With My Soul" continues to touch hearts more than 150 years after it was written. Why? Because we all face trials. We all go through times when life doesn't make sense. We all need to know that we can have peace even when everything is falling apart.

The Bible verses that inspired this hymn teach us that God's peace is different from anything the world offers. It doesn't depend on our circumstances. It comes from knowing who God is and trusting His character even when we can't understand His plan. It comes from believing that no matter what happens in this life, our souls are secure in His hands.

You might be walking through your own dark valley right now. Maybe you're facing loss, disappointment, fear, or pain that seems unbearable. The message of this hymn is for you. You don't have to pretend everything is fine. You don't have to understand why this is happening. But you can, by faith, declare that it is well with your soul. Not because you feel fine, but because God is faithful. Not because life is easy, but because God's love is sure. Not because you're strong, but because He is.

Whatever you're facing today, remember these truths. God is with you. He sees you. He cares about your pain. And ultimately, because of His promises, it truly is well with your soul.