By 1870, Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago lawyer with every reason to be thankful and faithful to God. A supporter of preachers Dwight L. Moody and Ira Sankey, prominent Christian evangelists formed part his circle of friends. In 1871, his four year old son died. While struggling with this personal tragedy, the Great Chicago Fire of the same year reduced the family’s property investments and financial security to ashes. To give the family time and space to recover, Horatio made plans for him, his wife and four daughters to join and encourage Moody and Sankey on one of their European preaching tours. On boarding the ship, a business emergency forced Horatio to remain in Chicago while the family went on ahead. But in mid Atlantic, the ship had collided with another ship, sinking in 12 minutes with the loss of 226 of the 307 passengers. Several days later Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales, Anna: “Saved Alone”; all four of their daughters were lost. Horatio immediately set off for Wales to bring his wife home. On the crossing to Wales, the ship’s captain summoned Horatio to the bridge informing him that they believe they were now passing the place where the ship was wrecked. Spafford returned to his cabin and that night wrote the words which became the hymn¹.

When peace, like a river,
Attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to say,

Refrain
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.

Refrain

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!

Refrain

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.

Refrain

¹eden.co.uk/blog/it-is-well-with-my-soul-story-behind-the-hymn-p11427

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Written alongside this song is a quite by J.C. Ryle: “no man ever need despair of reaching his journey’s end if he has once committed his soul to Christ’s keeping.” This quote is based on Mark 4:35-41 when travelling with his disciples in a boat, Jesus calms a strong storm, leaving the disciples to exclaim “who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”¹.

Come weary traveller fix your hope
Upon your journey’s end,
When unrestrained, his grace will pay
For every labour spent.
Though now you toil soon shall you rest;
Though now you must contend,
You soon shall be forever blessed
Upon your journey’s end

See Christ, his journey’s end in mind,
Ascending Calvary’s hill;
For heaven’s joy endured the cross
And bears your burdens still;
See perfect love and innocence
By all the world condemned;
Yet gladly bore the shame that you
Might reach your journey’s end

Refrain
Praise to the God of grace!
O what a sure and glorious hope!
He all our strength and praise
As we make our journey home

What storms you’ll weather, trials endure,
Lie far beyond your sight;
Yet anxious traveller rest secure:
You’ll soon be home with Christ!
He walks with you through fearful days,
Your sure and faithful friend;
And soon you’ll see his smiling face
Upon your journey’s end

Refrain

Come weary traveller fix your hope
Upon your journey’s end;
When crowds of angels cheer you home,
And God himself descends:
‘My good and faithful servant come
You journeyed long and hard;
Now everlasting joy is yours
My child you’re home at last.’

Refrain

¹joyfulnoise.uk/our-music/

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This Christian hymn was born out of the author’s profound trust in her Maker. In 1906 Adelaide A. Pollard was inspired to write the hymn’s lyrics after visiting a prayer ceremony where she heard a woman say “it doesn’t really matter what you do with us, Lord, just have your own way with our lives.” Prior to that, Pollard had a disheartening experience. She had a great wish to pay a missionary visit to Africa. However, she found herself unable to raise the fund needed for the journey. After hearing those encouraging words from that woman, she fell into deep contemplation of the potter’s story found in the book of Jeremiah 18:3. When she went home that evening, she wrote down the words based on what she reflected on was able to complete all the four stanzas. The outcome was the famous hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.¹”

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

¹countrythangdaily.com/have-thine-own-way-lord-pollard-potter/

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