It Is Well With My Soul

Horation G. Spafford, a 43 year old Chicago businessman, suffered financial disaster in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  He and his wife were still grieving over the death of their son shortly before the fire, and he realized they needed to get away for a vacation.  Knowing that their friend Dwight L. Moody was going to be preaching in evangelistic campaigns in England that fall, Spafford decided to take the entire family to England.  His wife and four daughters went ahead on the SS Ville du Havre, and he planned to follow in a few days.

But on the Atlantic Ocean the ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel and sank within twelve minutes.  226 lives were lost---including the Spaffords' four daughters.  When the survivors were brought to shore at Cardiff, Wales, Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, "Saved alone."

Spafford booked passage on the next ship.  As they were crossing the Atlantic, the captain pointed out the place where he thought the Ville Du Havre had gone down.  That night, Spafford penned the words "When sorrows like sea billows roll...it is well, it is well with my soul."