Can You Say It and Mean It?

Tragedy was associated with the writing of the words of the famous gospel hymn , “It is Well With My Soul,” and followed closely the composing of the music. H.G. Spafford wrote the poem in the mid-Atlantic over the exact spot where his four children had drowned a few days before. His wife and children were sailing to France on the “Ville du Havre,” one of the largest ships afloat. It was rammed by an English iron sailing vessel and sank to the bottom of the ocean within two hours, killing 226 people. Mrs. Spafford lived, but the four children were killed. She sent her husband a telegram with the words “All is lost.”

Just weeks before this tragic drowning, Spafford had lost everything he owned in the great Chicago fire. And now, if not tested enough, he lost all of his beloved children. As soon as it could be arranged he sailed to Europe to join his wife.

On the way, December 1872, the Captain of his ship pointed out to him the spot where the tragedy had occurred. Here in the dark of night, with a heart heavy with grief and pain, but surging with faith and hope, Spafford wrote these words:
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!
Philip Paul Bliss, great song leader and composer, wrote the music for this hymn in November, 1876. Two weeks after it had been written, Bliss and his wife were killed in a tragic train crash in Ashtabula, Ohio. It was said by witnesses that Bliss could have escaped, but chose to die by the side of his wife, who was caught in the flaming wreckage.

Can you say it is well with my soul?

Regardless of the SITUATION:

“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 will with my soul’.”
Regardless of SATAN:
“Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.”
Regardless of my SIN:
“My sin — O the bliss of this glorious tho’t! 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.”