It Is Well

One of my hobbies is arranging hymns.  I call it “goofing off on the piano” because I really don’t know enough music theory to be doing this.  My favorite hymn is “It Is Well” written by Horatio G. Spafford.  “It Is Well” has been my favorite hymn for about last ten years, as a result of watching my Grandma Watson finish her struggle with liver cancer in 2000.  My grandma’s death was not the only one that year.  Several dear members at my home church also saw their Maker’s face for the first time that year — including a prayer warrior ten days before my grandma’s death, and my “adopted” grandma twelve days after (which was ten years ago today).  The loss — even if only temporary — of their companionship and godly example felt almost overwhelming to my young heart.  Spafford’s hymn — written in response to greater grief than mine — anchored my heart in the truth of God’s Sovereignty.

These are not finished, but I hope they are close.  I haven’t even written them down yet.  These recordings are from my keyboard so that I don’t forget how they sound. If anyone has suggestions for some tweaking to the arrangements, I’d be more than happy hear them! :) (I apologize for the buzzing of the microphone in both recordings and for my pauses in the first one, and the too-fast-tempo and wrong chords in the second recording)

It Is Well

It Is Well (reprise)

Lyrics:

(1) When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll —

Whatever my lot, Thous hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

(2) Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials hould come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

(3) 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 nor more:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

(4) And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll:

The trump shall re-sound and the Lord shall descend,

“Even so” — it is well with my soul.

(Chorus) It is well

With my soul

It is well,

It is well with my soul.