It Is Well with My Soul

I have loved the song, "It is Well with My Soul" (or "Peace Like a River"), for a long time.  The author, Horatio Spafford, supposedly wrote this song after losing his four daughters.  As a work born out of great tragedy, this hymn displays the texture of Christian hope.  It demonstrates that hope does not rest in pleasant circumstances, but in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  The believer finds his strength by focusing on Christ, and not his circumstances.  I am greatly comforted by the truth this hymn reflects.  Here are the words:

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. (chorus)

Though Satan should buffet, thou trials should come,

Let this blessed assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed his own blood for my soul. (chorus)

CHORUS

It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul),

It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin--oh, the bliss of the 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, O my soul (chorus).

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be roll'd back as a scroll,

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,

"Even so," it is well with my soul (chorus)

My favorite line is, "My sin- 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, O my soul."  The cross is an undeniable display of the love of God for us (see Rom. 5:6-8).  I don't know what all circumstances you all face, but most likely, many of you are enduring great difficulty.  I pray that you have anchored your hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, and found it is well with your soul.