IT HAD BEEN ONE OF HIS FAVORITE songs. Even as a boy, I’d heard him singing it in his baritone-bass voice. So as I grew from childhood to manhood, I’d found myself occasionally singing it too—always when I was quite sure no one could overhear me!Though I’m only minimally gifted musically, I love this special language of music that expresses so much that nothing else can. And through the years, certain songs or compositions have come to have special and profound meaning—they express what lies too deep inside for words.
The favorite of my Dad’s to which I’ve alluded is entitled “It Is Well With My Soul.” So it seemed only right that the day we said goodbye to him on 9/11—the same morning the Twin Towers fell—that this song would be part of that goodbye.
Somehow she made it through the words, her voice bravely holding strong. My daughter Lorna stood next to the flag-draped casket of her grandfather (Dad was a World War II veteran)—and one of those to whom I had passed on life filled the autumn air with the song so often sung by one who had passed life on to me.
As in the most recent post below (“No More Night!”), here is a clip of this song that includes Christian tenor David Phelps. This video begins with Bill Gaither telling us the fascinating story of how the song came to be. The choir sings the first of the four stanzas (this video skips over the second), then “Gaither Vocal Band” vocalist Guy Penrod sings stanza three. David Phelps concludes with the final stanza.
I’m convinced that if I could truly keep the words of this song in mind more frequently, I’d know that “whatever my lot,” all is well with my soul!
Lyrics after the clip:
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 blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with 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!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with 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.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Do these lyrics give meaning to what your are going through right now?
Do you have a song that you listen to to get through hard times?
Let us know by commenting below.
If you would like to know more about grief or dealing with life itself shoot us an e-mail at Capitalyouth7@gmail.com and we will be sure to answer.
