Few hymns carry as much emotional weight and spiritual depth as “It Is Well with My Soul.” Its message of peace in hardship is powerful, but that message becomes even clearer when we consider the heartbreaking story that produced it. The hymn was written by Horatio Spafford, a successful lawyer and devoted Christian who endured a series of crushing tragedies. His son died unexpectedly. Not long after, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed nearly every investment he had. In an effort to restore some rest and healing for his family, Spafford planned a trip to England and sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him. During that voyage, their ship collided with another and sank rapidly. All four daughters drowned, and his wife survived alone.

When Spafford sailed to meet her, the captain pointed out the approximate spot where the ship had gone down. It was there, surrounded by the waters that had swallowed his children, that he wrote the opening lines of the hymn. This was not the voice of a man ignoring pain. It was the voice of a believer who had chosen to trust God in the darkest valley. The hymn was born from overwhelming sorrow, but it was shaped by unshakable faith and anchored in the promises of God’s Word.

With this background in mind, the meaning of the hymn becomes even more powerful. It is more than poetry, more than comfort, and more than reflection. It is a declaration that the peace of God is stronger than the storms of life, and that the finished work of Christ is enough to give the believer hope even in the deepest grief.

Peace That Comes from God and Not Circumstances

The opening line, “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll,” sets the theme of the entire hymn. Life brings calm seasons and crushing ones. Yet Spafford writes that whatever comes, God has taught him to say, “It is well with my soul.”

This is the same peace the Apostle Paul describes in Philippians 4:7 as the peace of God that passes all understanding. It does not come from perfect circumstances, but from knowing that God is near. Spafford had lost almost everything, yet he found peace because God’s presence did not leave him in his sorrow.

A Confession of Faith in Christ’s Finished Work

The second stanza lifts the heart even higher by focusing on salvation. One of the most powerful lines reads:

“My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.”

This is the heart of Christian assurance. Christ did not pay for some sins. He paid for all sins. Romans 8:1 declares that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. This truth gave Spafford confidence that even though suffering is great, salvation is greater. The grief he felt was real, but the forgiveness he had in Christ was eternal.

A Longing for the Return of Christ

Another verse says, “And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight.” This expresses a longing every believer has felt at some point. Spafford looked toward the day when Christ will return, the dead in Christ will rise, and every tear will be wiped away forever. Revelation 21:4 assures us of this promise. In moments of deep sorrow, the hope of Christ’s return becomes precious. The hymn points our eyes beyond the brokenness of the world and toward the glory that is coming.

Trust in God When Life Makes No Sense

The final verse, “The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,” is a triumphant declaration that God’s ultimate victory is assured. Spafford suffered through events that felt senseless and cruel, yet he chose to trust that God would one day make everything right. This reflects the teaching of 1 Thessalonians 4:16 to 18, where believers are told to comfort one another with the hope of Christ’s return.

The hymn teaches that peace is not found in understanding every hardship, but in trusting the God who holds our future.

What This Hymn Teaches Us

“It Is Well with My Soul” continues to touch hearts because it speaks to universal human experience. Everyone faces trials, fears, and seasons of grief. The hymn reminds us of four unchanging truths:

1. God is present in every storm.

He walks with His children in both calm and chaos.

2. Salvation is secure and complete.

Christ has fully paid for sin. No amount of grief or difficulty can change this eternal truth.

3. Suffering is temporary, but glory is eternal.

Earthly pain passes. Heavenly joy remains forever.

4. Peace comes through surrender to God’s will.

Spafford found peace not by controlling life, but by trusting the One who controls all things.

A Hymn of Grief Transformed into Worship

“It Is Well with My Soul” was written by a grieving father whose heart had been shattered. Yet through faith in Christ, he could declare that his soul was secure and his hope was unshakable. The hymn teaches us that the Christian life is not free from sorrow, but it is filled with the presence of a Savior who never leaves His children.

This hymn remains a reminder that even when waves rise and storms rage, God is faithful, salvation is sure, and hope is eternal. Because of Christ, it truly can be well with the soul.