When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like Sea pillows 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.
My sin, O the bliss this glorious thought,
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nail to his 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 the faith shall be sight.
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound 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.
It Is Well with My Soul
It Is Well with My Soul Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
"It Is Well with My Soul," as presented by Acapeldridge with a video release on 2017-11-10, is a profound and enduring hymn that resonates deeply with listeners. The hymn originated from the personal tragedy and unwavering faith of Horatio Spafford in the late 19th century. Following immense personal loss, including the death of his four daughters in a shipwreck, Spafford penned these powerful words while sailing near the site of the disaster. This historical context imbues the lyrics with a raw authenticity and a testament to faith that transcends unimaginable suffering, offering solace drawn from a source beyond earthly circumstances.
The lyrics navigate the complexities of human experience, juxtaposing moments of profound peace with overwhelming sorrow. The opening stanza, contrasting peace "like a river" with sorrows "like Sea pillows roll," immediately establishes the reality of life's trials. Yet, it swiftly shifts to a declaration of faith taught by divine guidance: "Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, It is well with my soul." This isn't a denial of pain, but an assertion of well-being that resides deeper than circumstance, rooted in divine assurance.
The subsequent verses delve into the source of this profound peace. The lines addressing buffeting by Satan and trials highlight spiritual and earthly opposition. The "blest assurance" that controls the soul is identified as Christ's regard for one's "helpless estate" and His atoning sacrifice, having "shed, His own blood for my soul." This points directly to the Christian belief in redemption and the security found in Christ's finished work on the cross, a theme central to the message of salvation found in scriptures such as Romans 5:8, which speaks of Christ dying for us while we were still sinners, demonstrating God's love.
The hymn then moves to the concept of sin and its removal. The lyric "My sin... Is nail to his cross and I bear it no more" is a powerful articulation of the doctrine of justification and freedom from the burden of guilt. This concept is strongly echoed in biblical passages like Colossians 2:14, which describes the canceling of our debt by nailing it to the cross. This liberation from sin's weight is presented as a cause for profound joy and praise, transforming what could be a source of despair into a reason for soul-deep affirmation.
Finally, the hymn looks forward to eschatological hope – the return of Christ. The longing for the day "when the faith shall be sight," when "the clouds be rolled back," and "the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend" speaks to the promise of the Second Coming. This anticipation of Christ's glorious return, described in scriptures such as 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, provides ultimate hope and reinforces the present declaration of "It is well with my soul," signifying that this state of peace is not just for this life but extends into eternity, culminating in complete and final redemption. The Acapeldridge rendition continues to carry this timeless message, presenting its layers of faith, suffering, atonement, and future hope to contemporary listeners through their performance.