In the evening of October 8th, 1871, a barn in the southwest corner of a big city a small fire started in a barn. The fire soon became inraged and burnt 3.3 acres of the city and killing over 300 residents. This was known as the Great Chicago Fire.

Horatio Spafford was a well to do lawyer and a man of God. He lost most of his properties and wealth in the Great Fire. He decided to meet up with his friend in the United Kingdom and together they would evangelize throughout the country.

Horatio needed to tie up a few loose ends in Chicago, so he sent his wife and 2 daughters ahead of him on a ship and the would rejoin them in a few weeks.

A tragic event happened a few days after his family left on their voyage. The ship was accidently hit by another ship resulting in sinking that his family was on.  After hearing the news about the ship sinking, Horatio received a wire from his wife that simply said, “I alone survived”.

Horatio quickly arranged to take another ship across the ocean to be with his wife. It has been said, that as Horatio was at sea and thinking back of the events in the last month he wrote down these words.

When peace like a river atendeth my way, when sarrows like sea billows roll. What ever my lot, Thou has taught me to say It Is Well With My Soul.  Verse 2. Though Satan buffet, though trails shall come, less this blest assurance control. That Christ hast regarded my helpless estate and has shed his own blood for my soul. Verse 3. My sin, oh, the bliss of the glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole, was nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, oh my soul.

You may have already heard this story and know the hymn It Is Well With My Soul. My favorite verse is verse 3.  It is a conformation that God will not just take part of my sin, but has taken all of it. He took it all to the cross so that anyone claiming Christ’s Blood will be saved.

Like I have mentioned in my previous blog, that this hymn is my favorite. The reason being is the example of a man who has lost his wealth, most of his family and yet through all of his grief, he can still look up to God and say, “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL”.

If you ever wanted to know what faith really looks like, this is a great example.

This hymn is a reminder to me, that no matter what trials I am going through or trials that are ahead of me, all I need to do is say “God, I know you got this” Then just trust Him and give God control.

This hymn always encourages me to keep going even though I don’t see a path to walk on.

I hope you can find encouragement also through this wonderful hymn.