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."

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 bless'd assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate
and has shed His own blood for my soul!

it is well with my soul
it is well, it is well with my soul

my sin - o! 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, it is well with my soul

and, Lord, haste the day when the 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, it is well with my soul
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1) ok, first verse is pretty easy: whether life is rolling along smoothly or i'm being overwhelmed by all the tough stuff coming at me - regardless of how my situation is or how i feel - i'm alright. in fact, i'm WELL.
2) second verse is a little more thought-provoking: no matter how awful it gets, or what kind of awful (satanic, just sinful, circumstantial - you name it), my comfort and assurance is that Christ died for me because He took a hard look at where i am and said "that won't do."
3) verse three is fabulous and def my favorite part of this hymn: no matter how screwed up i am, and how just awful things get because of me, that statement ("it is well with my soul") is still true. all that stuff that was mine is now nailed to the cross of Christ and it's mine no longer. i don't carry that burden. "praise the Lord" is right!
4) Jesus is coming back for us, y'all! can you believe that??? i'm so excited. that's what the last verse is about, but the one line that has confused me is "even so, it is well with my soul" - i mean, when Jesus comes back for me, gosh darn it i will be glad! why wouldn't i be well - better than ever in fact? (not that i'll be more secure, but you should see A Debtor to Mercy Alone for more on that...) it has occurred to me that maybe what's referenced here is fear and trembling - Jesus won't be coming peacefully this time - or perhaps the fact that we - at least i - have things i would like to do before He comes. like get married and have babies. and that our selfish and stupid hunger for those things more than for the Savior won't shatter us either.

regardless, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. our God made sure of that for good on resurrection sunday around 2000 years ago...