17 Best It Is Well With My Soul Bible Verses

Through God, we can say that the It is well with my soul Bible verse is our refuge and strength and that God is present in our sorrows.

It is easy to appreciate God, thank Him, praise Him, and testify for Him when things are going well in our lives, but what happens when tragedy strikes again and again? How do we react? How do we cope? Will we be able to hold on to hope? Bible verses declaring that “It is well with my soul.” even amid bad things happening, can boost our confidence in God, our faith, and our hope.

What Does the It is Well With My Soul Bible Verse Mean

We might be living our lives to the fullest, happy and satisfied, and then out of nowhere, tragedy strikes us like a solid 180 degrees. It is hard to go through trying times, but the most significant factor is our emotions. We might feel betrayed because we have been following and obeying God to the best of our abilities, and we still suffer. 

Is God not supposed to give us good things if we do good and give us bad things if we are bad? But if this is the case, doesn’t God sound more like Santa than God? The truth is God is good all the time to all people. When we go astray, we can always count on God to be there no matter how far we have gone. Shouldn’t we do the same for God?

Shouldn’t we stay with and by Him even if things do not turn out how we want them to? Also, shouldn’t we hold on to God even when we get tired? God should be able to depend on us being there and be faithful, like how we can always count on Him to be there.

The “It is well with my Soul” scripture verse can help us see how we can still feel and believe that everything will be okay even when the evidence points to the contrary. It is well Bible verse meaning it will help us deepen our faith in the most crucial points of our lives – when we are hurting. They contain messages of hope, love, strength, and comfort.

The Context Behind the It is Well With My Soul Hymn

The phrase “It is well with my soul” is well-known even among non-believers, but do we know where it came from? It is the title of a hymn written by an admirable man who went through many things in his life. 

The Story of Horacio Spafford

His name is Horatio Spafford, and his story is one of great tragedy and loss and, amazingly, hope and faith. Spafford was a lawyer and a Presbyterian church elder. He, his wife Anna, and their five children were well-known in the community for their status and faith.

In 1870, the Spaffords lost their only son to pneumonia at the tender age of four. Reeling from the tragedy, the family kept going, but the following year after their son’s death, they lost all their real estate holdings on the shores of Lake Michigan during the Chicago fire. 

After going through these tragedies, the family decided to go on a vacation to visit their good friend, D.L. Moody. Because of business, Horatio had to stay behind and catch up with his family later. 

In 1873, tragedy struck once again, and the ship where Horatio’s family was sunk after colliding with another ship. Anna sent her husband a telegram with the words, “Saved alone. What shall I do?” confirming to Horatio that his wife survived, but his four daughters did not.

After hearing the terrible news, Horatio rushed to join his wife. On the journey, it is said that the captain pointed out to Horatio the location where the ship carrying his family sank. It is believed that Horatio wrote the hymn during this journey when his grief was so fresh, and the wounds caused by the tragedies were still bleeding.

I imagine Horatio standing on the bow of the ship, looking at where his children died and managing to say that it is well with his soul. The lyrics and the hymn’s melody of the song are lovely but are made even more beautiful by knowing what birthed the hymn.

The Lyrics

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 blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (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 (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Scriptures Related to the It is Well With My Soul Bible Verse

Comforting Bible verses

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

When we do not know how to keep going or what to do next, we can count on God to be there for us, shielding us, strengthening us, and comforting us.

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

When we have God on our side, we have no reason to fear because He never leaves nor forsakes His own.

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

This is the kind of peace that stays in our hearts even when everything is dark and chaotic.

Colossians 3:15

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

We live in and for Jesus Christ; therefore, peace should be a part of our lives.

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

God is the kind of parent who listens, so never hesitate to tell Him anything – nothing is too small or too big.

1 John 5:13

“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life.”

Psalm 139:13-14

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for [b]I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”

Bible verses about trusting God

Habakkuk 3:17-18

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Life does not always yield a good bounty in different aspects of our lives. But we should always find it in ourselves to thank the Lord because there will always be blessings in our lives, no matter how bleak things seem to be.

Deuteronomy 31:8

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

The Lord will never let us fall because He loves us, and we are His own blood. We must keep holding on to Him and trusting Him.

Psalm 23:4

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

There is nothing like the comfort of knowing that God is with us and He is here to stay.

Psalm 33:22

“Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”

When God’s love is all around us, and our hope and peace come from Him, we can face anything the world and the enemy can throw at us.

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

No matter what happens or what we go through, our best course of action is to trust God first.

Isaiah 43:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

God did not promise a stress-free life, but He promised that He would be with us every step of the way.

Bible verses about hope

John 16:22

“So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.”

We must remember that suffering is temporary, no matter how impossible. 

Romans 15:13

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

God provides for us holistically, not just physically or materially. He also provides us with emotional, mental, and spiritual needs.

Hebrews 6:19

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

If we hold on to hope and our faith and overcome the trials and suffering that come our way, these experiences will teach us many things.

Revelations 21:4

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

One thing that the earth has that Heaven does not is suffering. We might suffer here, but never will we in Heaven.

Isaiah 43:1

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”

There are so many terrifying things in this world, but God has chosen us and loves us. We have to trust that He will never do anything to harm us.

1 Peter 5:10

“In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”

There is much suffering in the world, but it will all pass, and God’s word and love will remain forever.

In Summary

It is easier to shut everyone out. It is so easy to be angry at everything. When we are reeling from a loss, it is hard to comprehend how the world can keep going when our world stops, and we have no idea how to keep going. Like in the scripture, Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and waves have rolled over me. Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.

In these times of darkness, we often find ourselves retreating from others, isolating ourselves to cope alone with our pain. But this is not the way it has to be. We can turn to those around us, our loved ones and support systems, for they understand the weight of sorrow and loss. Embrace the strength in each other, and together have peace of mind, rise above the depths of despair.

It is easier to be angry at something, someone, or anyone than to feel the void our loved ones leave when they pass on. But we should remember that God is grieving with us just as he wept when Lazarus died. The Bible verse “It is well with my soul” can bring comfort and perspective in times of loss and grief.

And we should also remember that our loved ones are not gone; they went home to God. They are with Him, safe and happy, free of everything that weighed them down here on earth. Let us listen to God’s voice and find the strength to keep our faith and be able to say, “No matter what happens, it is well with my soul.”