Lyrics
Verse 1
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
Chorus
It is well, it is well, through the storm I am held
It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well, it is well, God has won, Christ prevailed
It is well, it is well with my soul
Verse 2
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 oh my soul
Verse 3
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
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
This version of It Is Well sets the familiar hymn text "When peace like a river attendeth my way" beside a newer chorus. The original verses move from calm to sorrow, to the confession that sin is "nailed to the cross", and to the hope of the clouds rolled back like a scroll. The added chorus, with "through the storm I am held" and "God has won, Christ prevailed," gives the hymn a declaration of victory alongside its acceptance of loss.
The refrain "It is well with my soul" does not deny suffering. It is placed directly after "sorrows like sea billows roll," so the peace it describes sits inside hardship rather than apart from it. The final verse looks ahead to the day faith becomes sight and the trumpet sounds.
Listeners may connect the lyric with Philippians 4:7, which speaks of a peace that guards the heart, and with 1 Thessalonians 4:16, which mentions the trumpet and the Lord's descent.
Related Scripture
- Philippians 4:7 The peace of God is described as surpassing understanding and guarding hearts and minds.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Paul mentions the trumpet of God and the Lord descending from heaven.