Lyrics
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
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 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
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
And Lord, haste the day when my 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 (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“It Is Well With My Soul” gives voice to settled trust in God amid both peace and sorrow. The opening verse places calm waters beside overwhelming grief, yet neither circumstance determines the singer’s confession. Wellness of soul rests instead on faith that God remains present and sovereign. The next verse turns to forgiveness, rejoicing that sin has been carried to the cross in full. Its repeated refrain therefore expresses more than emotional calm; it declares confidence grounded in Christ’s saving work.
The final verse looks beyond present trouble to the day when faith becomes sight, the trumpet sounds, and the Lord descends. That hope closely reflects 1 Thessalonians 4:16. The image of sin nailed to the cross corresponds with Colossians 2:14, while the peace running through the hymn recalls Philippians 4:7. These themes join endurance, forgiveness, and future hope in one confession. Even as circumstances shift from sorrow to expectation, the refrain remains unchanged, portraying spiritual peace as anchored in God rather than comfort.
Related Scripture
- Colossians 2:14 Paul describes the record of debt being canceled and nailed to the cross.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 The passage describes the Lord descending with a trumpet call.
- Philippians 4:7 God’s peace is described as guarding hearts and minds in Christ.