It is well

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

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, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

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

This afternoon, I overheard one of my friends playing this song on the piano. Instantly the words popped into my mind and I have not been able to get them out of my head (which is not a bad thing in the least). I LOVE this hymn. I love the feeling of this hymn. And I love the story behind this hymn.

I have not been through such intense trials. My current worries about class pale in comparison to what the Staffords endured, and what so many other people in the world go through every day. This hymn is a reality check for me. It is so easy to get caught up in daily stress, especially when immersed in a culture that places such a high emphasis on "success." But the majesty of this hymn is that no matter what happens, our souls are well when they are at rest with God. Christ has triumphed; Satan is defeated. Our sin is nailed to that cross, ALL of our sin. "The sky, not the grave, is our goal." Look to God for fulfillment. The world offers a mere shadow of the rich life God can bring.

God, no matter what stress is in our lives, no matter what pain we deal with, no matter what sin we struggle with, grant us the assurance of our fulfillment in you. Teach us to truly say with all our hearts "IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!"