Sermon Tone Analysis

It Is Well with My Soul

Life can be unpredictable and challenging, but faith and trust in God can help us to overcome hardship and tragedy.

As we will see as we look at the Hymn It Is Well with My Soul and as we look at Psalm 34:18

Horatio Spafford born in 1828 and was married to Anna where they lived in Chicago with there five children four daughters and one son.

He was a very spiritual man, very active in helping others, a Presbyterian church elder, a very successful lawyer and investor in real estate.

He had everything going for him, but their faith would be tested soon.

In 1870 their son at four years old became sick and died of scarlet fever.

In 1871 the Great Chicago fire broke out and destroyed most of Horatio’s real-estate.

Even though their finances mostly depleted they kept the faith, and the Spaffords continued to show the love of Christ to those in need.

In 1873 his wife health was beginning to fail and hoping to put behind them the tragic loss of their son and the fire and to benefit his wife’s health they planned a trip to Europe to help assist Evangelist Dwight L. Moody in a revival in England as the two were good friends.

The Spaffords plan to set sail in November 1873, but the day they were to set sail and business emergency came up and Horatio could not leave.

Not wanting to disappoint his family he sent them ahead and said he would be just a few days behind them.

So his wife and four daughters set sail and on day four their ship was struck by British iron sailing ship and is said to have sank within 12 minutes in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Anna was saved but all four girls died that day.

She was picked up along with some other survivors and taken to Cardiff, Wales where she sent a telegraph to her husband that said, “Saved alone.

What shall I do…”

As soon as Horatio received the telegram he left Chicago to to bring his wife home.

As he was crossing the Atlantic Ocean the captain of the ship called Horatio to the bridge and informed him that they were passing over the place where his daughters had died.

The spot where the ship sank is around three miles deep.

That night Horatio penned the words to this now famous hymn, It Is Well With My Soul.

Horatio’s nor his wife’s faith never wavered.

It Is Well With My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

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

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.

(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.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, with my soul,

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

# 9 Glorify Thy Name

Prayers of the people

Closing Chorus: #88 More Precious Than Silver

Charge and Benediction

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding guide your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Amen