Articles
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
I had the honor this past week to attend funerals for two faithful men of God. One of them
our own, Ken Dunn. The other gentleman from the Hazel St. congregation in Pine Bluff, Robert
McClanahan. Both were faithful men of God striving to serve the Lord to the best of their
abilities. Two men to be honored for their lives devoted to God.
One of the songs sung at both of the funerals was the song written by Phillip Bliss in 1876,
“It Is Well with My Soul.” This song is one I have cherished for many years and anytime a
brother or sister in Christ passes from this life, my thoughts turn quickly to these words.
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.”
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.
My sin —oh, the bliss of this glorious tho’t—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!
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.
Unfortunately, the second verse is not in our hymn book, but the thoughts should reverberate
in our minds and be seen in our daily lives. Because of Jesus Christ and His death, burial and
resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3-5), we do not have to fear Satan. Christ has defeated him already and
proclaims victory for us as well. And that is the reason we can lift our voice with the words, “It is
well with my soul!”
But wait, we need to understand that victory is reserved for those who are “in Christ Jesus”
(Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 6:11; 12:13; Col. 2:12). All spiritual blessings are found “in
Christ” (Eph. 1:3). If we are not “in Christ,” then there is no salvation, nor are there spiritual
blessings—no home in heaven.
My daily prayer is to be able to share these words with total conviction, not only with my
last breath, but throughout each and every day. Are you living your life in such a way as to share
the same thought? Have you committed your life to Christ through baptism, assuring yourself of
the victory in Christ and able to say, “it is well with my soul!” ~P. Mowrer
