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It Is Well With My Soul
The song “It Is Well With My Soul” was written by a successful Christian lawyer, Heratio Spafford. His son died at age four in 1871. In 1872, the great Chicago fire wiped out his vast estate, made from a successful legal career. In 1873, he sent his wife and four daughters to Europe on a summer trip on the ill-fated SS Ville du Havre. Since he had a lot of work to do, he planned to follow them later. The ship sank and he lost four daughters, with his wife being the only survivor. She sent him a famous telegram which simply read, “Saved alone.” On his return home, his law firm was burned down and the insurance company refused to pay him. They said, “It was an act of God.”
He had no money to pay for his house and no work. He also lost his house. Then while sitting and thinking about what had happened to him, being a spiritual person, he wrote a song: “Whatever, my Lord, you have taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”
For Christians, a good attitude will determine your altitude. When you look at your life — career, job, or family — what do you say? Do you praise God? Do you blame the devil? A good attitude towards God makes him move on your behalf.
Remind yourself that, because of God, it is well with your soul. I am thankful I had a peaceful sleep. I am thankful I am alive with possibilities. I am thankful I have a roof over me. I am thankful I have a job. I am thankful that I have family and friends. Above all, I am thankful that I have the Lord Jesus Christ on my side.
Don’t be envious or shocked when others are prospering because you don’t know what they have been through to get there (tests, trials, and tribulations). Thank God for the “sure mercies” of David (Acts 13.34). Through them, it is well with your soul.
