When Peace, Like a River (LSB 763) Text 1 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 3 He lives—-O the bliss of this glorious thought; When sorrows, like sea billows, roll; My sin, not in part, but the whole, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more, It is well, it is well with my soul. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Refrain: [Refrain] It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul. 4 And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, 2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials The clouds be rolled back as a scroll, should come, The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall Let this blest assurance control, descend; That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate Even so it is well with my soul. And hath shed his own blood for my soul. [Refrain] [Refrain] Author: Horatio G. Spafford (1725-1807) ​ Scripture: Isaiah 26:3; Luke 2:29; Romans 5:1; Colossians 3:15 ​ Background: This hymn was born out of tragedy and grief. Horatio Spafford was quite a ​ successful businessman in Chicago. He owned numerous hotels, and realty was his main source of income. In 1870, things turn for the worse, he and his wife lost their young son to scarlet fever. Later, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed most of his real estate. His entire life savings was gone. He decided to go to England with his family to help them through these tough times. Because of a last minute business deal, he stayed in Chicago while his wife and four daughters went ahead of him to England. The ship was struck by another boat in the middle of the Atlantic. His wife sent a telegraph back home saying, “Saved, Alone.” Horatio’s wife survived the tragedy, but all four daughters died in the shipwreck. He joined his wife as soon as possible by boarding the next ship. When he was at the location of where his daughters died, the captain notified him, and he stood on the bridge. He then wrote the words of this hymn, also known as It is Well. How can such a ​ ​ comforting hymn be the result of mourning? By relying on God, Spafford realized that even though he lost much, he still has God, and it is well, because God is with him. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHe_qmo3gX4 ​ Story Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvq3pYsHidA ​.