It Is Well With My Soul

Well...I gave you all an assignment last Sunday. Do some research and find the story behind the lyrics to the song "It Is Well With My Soul." So it's been a week now and I thought I would post the story here for those that couldn't find it. Here goes...

Horatio G. Spafford was a well-to-do Chicago lawyer with a wife, son, and 4 daughters. His son perished in the 1871 Chicago fire where over 100,000 people were left homeless.

For the next couple years the now financially ruined Mr. Spafford worked with Dwight Moody on relief efforts for the city. In 1873 the Spafford family planned a trip to England. Mr. Spafford was delayed by business, and so sent Mrs. Spafford and the four girls on ahead.

While crossing the Atlantic, their ship sank rapidly after a collision with another ship and all 4 of Spafford's daughters died. Mrs. Spafford was 1 of only 47 survivors. Mr. Spafford received the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." When Mr. and Mrs. Spafford met up with Dwight Moody in England, Mr. Spafford simply said, "It is well. The will of God be done."

Horatio G. Spafford wrote the lyrics for “It Is Well With My Soul” shortly after the shipwreck and loss of his 4 daughters. The hymn was published in 1876.