60 acast.com It Is Well with My Soul The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/itiswellwithmysoulthebook en Maegraith Productions Horatio Spafford, It Is Well with My Soul, Great Chicago Fire, Anna Spafford, hymn history, Christian faith, Christianity, 1873 shipwreck, Christian history, inspirational story, faith and hope, grief and loss, hymns, Christian music, Christian audiobook Maegraith Productions The extraordinary true story behind one of the world’s best-loved hymns.


This podcast is a reading of the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn by the author D.P.K.Maegraith. Buy the book and learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


In 1873, Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago businessman whose life was transformed by a series of devastating tragedies. He lost much of his wealth in the Great Chicago Fire. Then, while travelling across the Atlantic to join his family in Europe, disaster struck again: his four daughters died when the ship carrying them collided with another vessel.


As Horatio sailed across the Atlantic over the place where his daughters had perished, he began to write the words that would become “It Is Well with My Soul” a hymn of extraordinary faith, comfort and hope. But the story does not end there.


This podcast explores the remarkable lives of Horatio and Anna Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, the tragedy at sea, their deep Christian faith, and the extraordinary circumstances that inspired a hymn that has comforted millions of people around the world.


Based on the book It Is Well with My Soul, this is a story of loss and grief, but ultimately of courage, faith, redemption and hope.

Discover the history behind the hymn and the story of the people whose lives gave it meaning.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The extraordinary true story behind one of the world’s best-loved hymns.


This podcast is a reading of the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn by the author D.P.K.Maegraith. Buy the book and learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


In 1873, Horatio Spafford was a successful Chicago businessman whose life was transformed by a series of devastating tragedies. He lost much of his wealth in the Great Chicago Fire. Then, while travelling across the Atlantic to join his family in Europe, disaster struck again: his four daughters died when the ship carrying them collided with another vessel.


As Horatio sailed across the Atlantic over the place where his daughters had perished, he began to write the words that would become “It Is Well with My Soul” a hymn of extraordinary faith, comfort and hope. But the story does not end there.


This podcast explores the remarkable lives of Horatio and Anna Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, the tragedy at sea, their deep Christian faith, and the extraordinary circumstances that inspired a hymn that has comforted millions of people around the world.


Based on the book It Is Well with My Soul, this is a story of loss and grief, but ultimately of courage, faith, redemption and hope.

Discover the history behind the hymn and the story of the people whose lives gave it meaning.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false Maegraith Productions info+6a9f43680c7270061555e673@mg-eu.acast.com 6a9f43680c7270061555e673 itiswellwithmysoulthebook episodic https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1788821969803-86434b2d-3896-4bd1-9275-17f23d26afc7.jpeg https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/itiswellwithmysoulthebook It Is Well with My Soul The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn It Is Well with My Soul: The Scripture Inspirations for the song It Is Well with My Soul: The Scripture Inspirations for the song Thu, 17 Sep 2026 22:51:34 GMT 8:41 6aac6ef64cef87591d9df091 false https://shows.acast.com/itiswellwithmysoulthebook/episodes/6aac6ef64cef87591d9df091 6aac6ef64cef87591d9df091 6a9f43680c7270061555e673 It is well. It is well with my soul. full 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.


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


It Is Well with My Soul: The Scripture Inspirations for the song. It is one of the most treasured hymns in the church: It Is Well with My Soul. These words were not written in a quiet study. They were written after fire, after ruin, and after a father’s four daughters were lost at sea. And yet every line is anchored in Scripture. Not as decoration. As foundation.


Let’s walk the hymn slowly — story first, then verse by verse — and listen for the Bible underneath it. Horatio Gates Spafford was a Chicago lawyer and a Presbyterian elder. He was a friend of D. L. Moody. In 1871 the Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of his real-estate fortune.


Two years later, the family planned a trip to Europe. Business held Horatio back. His wife Anna sailed ahead with their four daughters: Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and little Tanetta.


On the night of November 22, 1873, their ship, the Ville du Havre, was struck by another vessel and sank in minutes. Two hundred twenty-six people died. All four girls were among them. Anna was pulled from the water, barely alive. From Cardiff she sent a cable that still stops the heart: “Saved alone. What shall I do.”


Horatio boarded a ship to meet her. The captain later called him to the cabin and told him they were passing over the place where the Ville du Havre had gone down. Waters three miles deep. There, over that grave of water, Spafford began to write.


Philip Bliss later set the poem to music and named the tune Ville du Havre — after the ship itself. Grief wrote the hymn. Scripture held it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 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.


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


It Is Well with My Soul: The Scripture Inspirations for the song. It is one of the most treasured hymns in the church: It Is Well with My Soul. These words were not written in a quiet study. They were written after fire, after ruin, and after a father’s four daughters were lost at sea. And yet every line is anchored in Scripture. Not as decoration. As foundation.


Let’s walk the hymn slowly — story first, then verse by verse — and listen for the Bible underneath it. Horatio Gates Spafford was a Chicago lawyer and a Presbyterian elder. He was a friend of D. L. Moody. In 1871 the Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of his real-estate fortune.


Two years later, the family planned a trip to Europe. Business held Horatio back. His wife Anna sailed ahead with their four daughters: Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and little Tanetta.


On the night of November 22, 1873, their ship, the Ville du Havre, was struck by another vessel and sank in minutes. Two hundred twenty-six people died. All four girls were among them. Anna was pulled from the water, barely alive. From Cardiff she sent a cable that still stops the heart: “Saved alone. What shall I do.”


Horatio boarded a ship to meet her. The captain later called him to the cabin and told him they were passing over the place where the Ville du Havre had gone down. Waters three miles deep. There, over that grave of water, Spafford began to write.


Philip Bliss later set the poem to music and named the tune Ville du Havre — after the ship itself. Grief wrote the hymn. Scripture held it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> From Tragedy to Triumph: The Cinematic Journey of It Is Well with My Soul and Horatio Spafford From Tragedy to Triumph: The Cinematic Journey of It Is Well with My Soul and Horatio Spafford Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:51:35 GMT 19:50 6aab39978577b7eb5037f9a5 false https://shows.acast.com/itiswellwithmysoulthebook/episodes/6aab39978577b7eb5037f9a5 6aab39978577b7eb5037f9a5 6a9f43680c7270061555e673 full Bonus Content. Can a story rooted in absolute devastation translate into a blockbuster cinematic experience? We explore the massive potential and the unique structural hurdles of bringing the origin story of "It Is Well with My Soul" and Horatio Spafford to the big screen for a planned future release.


With over a billion streams worldwide and an enduring legacy spanning more than 150 years, the hymn carries unmatched cultural weight. But how do you adapt an anthem of ultimate comfort when its creation is born from a 19th-century shipwreck, the loss of four children, and the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire?


Join us as we evaluate how this project stacks up against other major faith-and-family cinematic milestones and recent historical epics, including: The Passion of the Christ and its upcoming 2027/2028 sequel event, The Resurrection of the Christ. Sound of Freedom and the expanding slate from Angel Studios. I Can Only Imagine 2 (2026) and its predecessor's model of translating musical legacy to film.


Can a heavy, uncompromising historical drama capture a massive modern audience in 2028, or will the weight of the tragedy prove too steep for the silver screen? Tune in as we debate the future of spiritual epics.


It Is Well With My Soul: The Extraordinary True Story Behind the Hymn That Changed the World


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


Tragedy Upon the Atlantic


Hoping to provide his exhausted family with a period of physical restoration and emotional healing, Horatio Spafford planned a holiday to Europe for late 1873. They intended to enjoy a season of peace abroad while also supporting the ongoing European ministry of their dear friend D.L. Moody.


At the final hour, unexpected business matters detained Horatio in Chicago. Refusing to disappoint his wife and daughters, he made the fateful decision to send Anna and their four surviving children—Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta—ahead of him on the French luxury steamship, the SS Ville du Havre. Horatio kissed his family goodbye at the New York docks, expecting to complete his business affairs and join them in Europe just days later.


On November 22, 1873, disaster struck in the pitch-black hours of the mid-Atlantic. The Ville du Havre collided with an iron sailing vessel, the Loch Earn. The impact was catastrophic; the massive steamship fractured and slipped beneath the dark, freezing waters in a mere twelve minutes.


Of the 313 passengers and crew members on board, 226 perished. Among the lost were all four of Horatio Spafford’s precious daughters.


Amid the chaos, Anna Spafford was miraculously pulled unconscious from the freezing surface, floating on a piece of wooden wreckage. The shivering survivors were transferred to another vessel and brought ashore in Cardiff, Wales. From the foreign port, a shattered Anna sent a heart-wrenching telegram to her husband across the sea:


"Saved alone. What shall I do?"


Upon receiving the devastating dispatch, Horatio immediately booked passage on the next available steamer to cross the Atlantic and comfort his grieving wife.


During the voyage, the ship's captain called Horatio to the navigation bridge. Pointing to the maritime charts spread across the desk, the captain somberly informed him that they were now passing directly over the deep oceanic grave where the Ville du Havre had gone down—the exact coordinates where his four daughters had lost their lives.


Confronted by the sheer depth of his sorrow and the rolling expanse of the sea, Horatio did not surrender to bitterness. Instead, he retreated to his cabin and poured his soul onto paper. Channeling a lifetime of devotion and an unyielding trust in divine grace, he penned the words that would transcend his personal grief to become an eternal balm for humanity:


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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Bonus Content. Can a story rooted in absolute devastation translate into a blockbuster cinematic experience? We explore the massive potential and the unique structural hurdles of bringing the origin story of "It Is Well with My Soul" and Horatio Spafford to the big screen for a planned future release.


With over a billion streams worldwide and an enduring legacy spanning more than 150 years, the hymn carries unmatched cultural weight. But how do you adapt an anthem of ultimate comfort when its creation is born from a 19th-century shipwreck, the loss of four children, and the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire?


Join us as we evaluate how this project stacks up against other major faith-and-family cinematic milestones and recent historical epics, including: The Passion of the Christ and its upcoming 2027/2028 sequel event, The Resurrection of the Christ. Sound of Freedom and the expanding slate from Angel Studios. I Can Only Imagine 2 (2026) and its predecessor's model of translating musical legacy to film.


Can a heavy, uncompromising historical drama capture a massive modern audience in 2028, or will the weight of the tragedy prove too steep for the silver screen? Tune in as we debate the future of spiritual epics.


It Is Well With My Soul: The Extraordinary True Story Behind the Hymn That Changed the World


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


Tragedy Upon the Atlantic


Hoping to provide his exhausted family with a period of physical restoration and emotional healing, Horatio Spafford planned a holiday to Europe for late 1873. They intended to enjoy a season of peace abroad while also supporting the ongoing European ministry of their dear friend D.L. Moody.


At the final hour, unexpected business matters detained Horatio in Chicago. Refusing to disappoint his wife and daughters, he made the fateful decision to send Anna and their four surviving children—Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta—ahead of him on the French luxury steamship, the SS Ville du Havre. Horatio kissed his family goodbye at the New York docks, expecting to complete his business affairs and join them in Europe just days later.


On November 22, 1873, disaster struck in the pitch-black hours of the mid-Atlantic. The Ville du Havre collided with an iron sailing vessel, the Loch Earn. The impact was catastrophic; the massive steamship fractured and slipped beneath the dark, freezing waters in a mere twelve minutes.


Of the 313 passengers and crew members on board, 226 perished. Among the lost were all four of Horatio Spafford’s precious daughters.


Amid the chaos, Anna Spafford was miraculously pulled unconscious from the freezing surface, floating on a piece of wooden wreckage. The shivering survivors were transferred to another vessel and brought ashore in Cardiff, Wales. From the foreign port, a shattered Anna sent a heart-wrenching telegram to her husband across the sea:


"Saved alone. What shall I do?"


Upon receiving the devastating dispatch, Horatio immediately booked passage on the next available steamer to cross the Atlantic and comfort his grieving wife.


During the voyage, the ship's captain called Horatio to the navigation bridge. Pointing to the maritime charts spread across the desk, the captain somberly informed him that they were now passing directly over the deep oceanic grave where the Ville du Havre had gone down—the exact coordinates where his four daughters had lost their lives.


Confronted by the sheer depth of his sorrow and the rolling expanse of the sea, Horatio did not surrender to bitterness. Instead, he retreated to his cabin and poured his soul onto paper. Channeling a lifetime of devotion and an unyielding trust in divine grace, he penned the words that would transcend his personal grief to become an eternal balm for humanity:


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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[What Happened to Horatio? From Deep Sorrow to Timeless Hope: Exploring the Spiritual Journey and Resilience Behind 'It Is Well with My Soul']]> Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:45:35 GMT 19:37 6aab2a1fbf7eb386d3cc42bd false https://shows.acast.com/itiswellwithmysoulthebook/episodes/6aab2a1fbf7eb386d3cc42bd 6aab2a1fbf7eb386d3cc42bd 6a9f43680c7270061555e673 bonus In this bonus content, we examine the incredible spiritual and psychological journey of Horatio Spafford.


What Happened to Horatio? How does a man standing over the watery grave of his four daughters—having just received the heartbreaking telegram, "Saved alone. What shall I do?"—write one of the most comforting hymns in human history?


Moving from the devastating loss of the Great Chicago Fire to the icy depths of the Atlantic Ocean, we explore how Horatio transitioned from unimaginable agony to profound hope. Was it an act of divine intervention, or a masterclass in human resilience? Join us as we unpack a foundational faith built on deep devotion, unshakable eternal perspective, and the ultimate surrender of heartbreak.


Discover the story behind the song that continues to anchor souls through life's deepest waters.


It Is Well With My Soul: The Extraordinary True Story Behind the Hymn That Changed the World


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


Dive deep into one of the most powerful, emotionally stirring, and spiritually profound accounts in human history. It Is Well With My Soul chronicles the astonishing true story of Horatio and Anna Spafford, a loving family whose lives were upended by unprecedented devastation, only to birth a timeless anthem of comfort, resilience, and unshakeable peace that continues to echo across the globe.




A Life of Promise and Sudden Shadows




In the bustling city of Chicago during the late nineteenth century, Horatio Spafford was a man of considerable stature. A respected and successful attorney, astute real estate investor, and devoted husband to his wife Anna, Horatio lived a life blessed with community, influence, and deep Christian faith. He counted legendary figures like evangelist Dwight L. Moody among his close friends and confidants.




Yet, even the most firmly rooted lives can be tested by the unpredictable tempests of existence. The first major blow fell in 1871 when the Spaffords' young son succumbed to scarlet fever. Scarcely had the family begun to grieve this immense loss when, mere weeks later, the Great Chicago Fire swept through the metropolis. The catastrophic blaze reduced downtown Chicago to ashes, wiping out the vast majority of Horatio’s real estate investments and leaving nearly one hundred thousand people homeless.




Hoping to provide his exhausted family with a period of physical restoration and emotional healing, Horatio planned a holiday to Europe for late 1873. They intended to enjoy a season of peace abroad while also supporting the ongoing European ministry of their dear friend D.L. Moody.




At the final hour, unexpected business matters detained Horatio in Chicago. Refusing to disappoint his wife and daughters, he made the fateful decision to send Anna and their four surviving children—Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta—ahead of him on the French luxury steamship, the SS Ville du Havre. Horatio kissed his family goodbye at the New York docks, expecting to complete his business affairs and join them in Europe just days later.




On November 22, 1873, disaster struck in the pitch-black hours of the mid-Atlantic. The Ville du Havre collided with an iron sailing vessel, the Loch Earn. The impact was catastrophic; the massive steamship fractured and slipped beneath the dark, freezing waters in a mere twelve minutes.




Confronted by the sheer depth of his sorrow and the rolling expanse of the sea, Horatio did not surrender to bitterness. Instead, he retreated to his cabin and poured his soul onto paper. Channeling a lifetime of devotion and an unyielding trust in divine grace, he penned the words that would transcend his personal grief to become an eternal balm for humanity:




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.




Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> In this bonus content, we examine the incredible spiritual and psychological journey of Horatio Spafford.


What Happened to Horatio? How does a man standing over the watery grave of his four daughters—having just received the heartbreaking telegram, "Saved alone. What shall I do?"—write one of the most comforting hymns in human history?


Moving from the devastating loss of the Great Chicago Fire to the icy depths of the Atlantic Ocean, we explore how Horatio transitioned from unimaginable agony to profound hope. Was it an act of divine intervention, or a masterclass in human resilience? Join us as we unpack a foundational faith built on deep devotion, unshakable eternal perspective, and the ultimate surrender of heartbreak.


Discover the story behind the song that continues to anchor souls through life's deepest waters.


It Is Well With My Soul: The Extraordinary True Story Behind the Hymn That Changed the World


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


Dive deep into one of the most powerful, emotionally stirring, and spiritually profound accounts in human history. It Is Well With My Soul chronicles the astonishing true story of Horatio and Anna Spafford, a loving family whose lives were upended by unprecedented devastation, only to birth a timeless anthem of comfort, resilience, and unshakeable peace that continues to echo across the globe.




A Life of Promise and Sudden Shadows




In the bustling city of Chicago during the late nineteenth century, Horatio Spafford was a man of considerable stature. A respected and successful attorney, astute real estate investor, and devoted husband to his wife Anna, Horatio lived a life blessed with community, influence, and deep Christian faith. He counted legendary figures like evangelist Dwight L. Moody among his close friends and confidants.




Yet, even the most firmly rooted lives can be tested by the unpredictable tempests of existence. The first major blow fell in 1871 when the Spaffords' young son succumbed to scarlet fever. Scarcely had the family begun to grieve this immense loss when, mere weeks later, the Great Chicago Fire swept through the metropolis. The catastrophic blaze reduced downtown Chicago to ashes, wiping out the vast majority of Horatio’s real estate investments and leaving nearly one hundred thousand people homeless.




Hoping to provide his exhausted family with a period of physical restoration and emotional healing, Horatio planned a holiday to Europe for late 1873. They intended to enjoy a season of peace abroad while also supporting the ongoing European ministry of their dear friend D.L. Moody.




At the final hour, unexpected business matters detained Horatio in Chicago. Refusing to disappoint his wife and daughters, he made the fateful decision to send Anna and their four surviving children—Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta—ahead of him on the French luxury steamship, the SS Ville du Havre. Horatio kissed his family goodbye at the New York docks, expecting to complete his business affairs and join them in Europe just days later.




On November 22, 1873, disaster struck in the pitch-black hours of the mid-Atlantic. The Ville du Havre collided with an iron sailing vessel, the Loch Earn. The impact was catastrophic; the massive steamship fractured and slipped beneath the dark, freezing waters in a mere twelve minutes.




Confronted by the sheer depth of his sorrow and the rolling expanse of the sea, Horatio did not surrender to bitterness. Instead, he retreated to his cabin and poured his soul onto paper. Channeling a lifetime of devotion and an unyielding trust in divine grace, he penned the words that would transcend his personal grief to become an eternal balm for humanity:




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.




Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Anna Spafford and The American Colony: Surviving Tragedy, Trauma Recovery, and Finding Resilience in Jerusalem Anna Spafford and The American Colony: Surviving Tragedy, Trauma Recovery, and Finding Resilience in Jerusalem Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:36:03 GMT 18:16 6aab27e3fce2f88226e8a7b5 false https://shows.acast.com/itiswellwithmysoulthebook/episodes/6aab27e3fce2f88226e8a7b5 6aab27e3fce2f88226e8a7b5 6a9f43680c7270061555e673 bonus

Bonus content. What does it take to survive the absolute destruction of everything you love?


In this bonus content, we dive deep into the harrowing life of Anna Spafford—a woman who lived through the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, survived the freezing Atlantic shipwreck that claimed her four young daughters in 1873, and responded with a stunning act of radical, global compassion.


Join us as our hosts unpack the profound mechanics of human resilience. Is survival driven by internal cognitive reframing, or does it require externalized, defiant action like building a utopian community in the volatile heart of 19th-century Jerusalem? From the depths of grief to the birth of the American Colony, this episode explores how human beings process catastrophic loss and find the strength to declare: "It is well with my soul."

It Is Well With My Soul: The Extraordinary True Story Behind the Hymn That Changed the World


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


Dive deep into one of the most powerful, emotionally stirring, and spiritually profound accounts in human history. It Is Well With My Soul chronicles the astonishing true story of Horatio and Anna Spafford, a loving family whose lives were upended by unprecedented devastation, only to birth a timeless anthem of comfort, resilience, and unshakeable peace that continues to echo across the globe.


A Life of Promise and Sudden Shadows


In the bustling city of Chicago during the late nineteenth century, Horatio Spafford was a man of considerable stature. A respected and successful attorney, astute real estate investor, and devoted husband to his wife Anna, Horatio lived a life blessed with community, influence, and deep Christian faith. He counted legendary figures like evangelist Dwight L. Moody among his close friends and confidants.


Yet, even the most firmly rooted lives can be tested by the unpredictable tempests of existence. The first major blow fell in 1871 when the Spaffords' young son succumbed to scarlet fever. Scarcely had the family begun to grieve this immense loss when, mere weeks later, the Great Chicago Fire swept through the metropolis. The catastrophic blaze reduced downtown Chicago to ashes, wiping out the vast majority of Horatio’s real estate investments and leaving nearly one hundred thousand people homeless.


Hoping to provide his exhausted family with a period of physical restoration and emotional healing, Horatio planned a holiday to Europe for late 1873. They intended to enjoy a season of peace abroad while also supporting the ongoing European ministry of their dear friend D.L. Moody.


At the final hour, unexpected business matters detained Horatio in Chicago. Refusing to disappoint his wife and daughters, he made the fateful decision to send Anna and their four surviving children—Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta—ahead of him on the French luxury steamship, the SS Ville du Havre. Horatio kissed his family goodbye at the New York docks, expecting to complete his business affairs and join them in Europe just days later.


On November 22, 1873, disaster struck in the pitch-black hours of the mid-Atlantic. The Ville du Havre collided with an iron sailing vessel, the Loch Earn. The impact was catastrophic; the massive steamship fractured and slipped beneath the dark, freezing waters in a mere twelve minutes.


Confronted by the sheer depth of his sorrow and the rolling expanse of the sea, Horatio did not surrender to bitterness. Instead, he retreated to his cabin and poured his soul onto paper. Channeling a lifetime of devotion and an unyielding trust in divine grace, he penned the words that would transcend his personal grief to become an eternal balm for humanity:


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.


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>

Bonus content. What does it take to survive the absolute destruction of everything you love?


In this bonus content, we dive deep into the harrowing life of Anna Spafford—a woman who lived through the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, survived the freezing Atlantic shipwreck that claimed her four young daughters in 1873, and responded with a stunning act of radical, global compassion.


Join us as our hosts unpack the profound mechanics of human resilience. Is survival driven by internal cognitive reframing, or does it require externalized, defiant action like building a utopian community in the volatile heart of 19th-century Jerusalem? From the depths of grief to the birth of the American Colony, this episode explores how human beings process catastrophic loss and find the strength to declare: "It is well with my soul."

It Is Well With My Soul: The Extraordinary True Story Behind the Hymn That Changed the World


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


Dive deep into one of the most powerful, emotionally stirring, and spiritually profound accounts in human history. It Is Well With My Soul chronicles the astonishing true story of Horatio and Anna Spafford, a loving family whose lives were upended by unprecedented devastation, only to birth a timeless anthem of comfort, resilience, and unshakeable peace that continues to echo across the globe.


A Life of Promise and Sudden Shadows


In the bustling city of Chicago during the late nineteenth century, Horatio Spafford was a man of considerable stature. A respected and successful attorney, astute real estate investor, and devoted husband to his wife Anna, Horatio lived a life blessed with community, influence, and deep Christian faith. He counted legendary figures like evangelist Dwight L. Moody among his close friends and confidants.


Yet, even the most firmly rooted lives can be tested by the unpredictable tempests of existence. The first major blow fell in 1871 when the Spaffords' young son succumbed to scarlet fever. Scarcely had the family begun to grieve this immense loss when, mere weeks later, the Great Chicago Fire swept through the metropolis. The catastrophic blaze reduced downtown Chicago to ashes, wiping out the vast majority of Horatio’s real estate investments and leaving nearly one hundred thousand people homeless.


Hoping to provide his exhausted family with a period of physical restoration and emotional healing, Horatio planned a holiday to Europe for late 1873. They intended to enjoy a season of peace abroad while also supporting the ongoing European ministry of their dear friend D.L. Moody.


At the final hour, unexpected business matters detained Horatio in Chicago. Refusing to disappoint his wife and daughters, he made the fateful decision to send Anna and their four surviving children—Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta—ahead of him on the French luxury steamship, the SS Ville du Havre. Horatio kissed his family goodbye at the New York docks, expecting to complete his business affairs and join them in Europe just days later.


On November 22, 1873, disaster struck in the pitch-black hours of the mid-Atlantic. The Ville du Havre collided with an iron sailing vessel, the Loch Earn. The impact was catastrophic; the massive steamship fractured and slipped beneath the dark, freezing waters in a mere twelve minutes.


Confronted by the sheer depth of his sorrow and the rolling expanse of the sea, Horatio did not surrender to bitterness. Instead, he retreated to his cabin and poured his soul onto paper. Channeling a lifetime of devotion and an unyielding trust in divine grace, he penned the words that would transcend his personal grief to become an eternal balm for humanity:


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.


Discover the whole story https://itiswellwithmysoul.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Chapter 4 Water Chapter 4 Water Sun, 13 Sep 2026 08:30:25 GMT 11:27 6aa65f22564171e32ad63990 false https://shows.acast.com/itiswellwithmysoulthebook/episodes/6aa65f22564171e32ad63990 6aa65f22564171e32ad63990 6a9f43680c7270061555e673 full November, 1873. Anna and her four daughters sail from New York aboard the Ville de Havre in the middle of the North Atlantic. The ship collides with the iron clipper Loch Urn and sinks in little more than 10 minutes.


Anna watches the sea take Taneda from her arms, then Annie, Maggie, and Bessie. She is pulled onto wreckage and later rescued. Nine days later, from Cardiff, she sends Horatio the telegram that will break him. Saved alone, what shall I do? The chapter ends with Horatio on his knees, pouring out his grief to God.


This episode read by the author D.P.K.Maegraith from the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn. Buy the book, learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> November, 1873. Anna and her four daughters sail from New York aboard the Ville de Havre in the middle of the North Atlantic. The ship collides with the iron clipper Loch Urn and sinks in little more than 10 minutes.


Anna watches the sea take Taneda from her arms, then Annie, Maggie, and Bessie. She is pulled onto wreckage and later rescued. Nine days later, from Cardiff, she sends Horatio the telegram that will break him. Saved alone, what shall I do? The chapter ends with Horatio on his knees, pouring out his grief to God.


This episode read by the author D.P.K.Maegraith from the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn. Buy the book, learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Chapter 3 Fire Chapter 3 Fire Sun, 13 Sep 2026 08:26:11 GMT 11:52 6aa65e24a6e9aef4cc61a0a4 false https://shows.acast.com/itiswellwithmysoulthebook/episodes/6aa65e24a6e9aef4cc61a0a4 6aa65e24a6e9aef4cc61a0a4 6a9f43680c7270061555e673 full The hot, dry summer of 1871 ends in catastrophe. On October 8th, a lantern in the O' Leary barn starts the Great Chicago Fire.


In two days a third of the city is destroyed and Horatio's property investments are gone. Walking through the ruins, he meets the same stranger from his wedding day who now quotes Job the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.


Moody later invites the family to Europe. Horatio cannot leave, but he books passage for Anna and the girls on the Ville du Ave, hoping rest and reunion at Christmas will restore them all.


This episode read by the author D.P.K.Maegraith from the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn. Buy the book, learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The hot, dry summer of 1871 ends in catastrophe. On October 8th, a lantern in the O' Leary barn starts the Great Chicago Fire.


In two days a third of the city is destroyed and Horatio's property investments are gone. Walking through the ruins, he meets the same stranger from his wedding day who now quotes Job the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.


Moody later invites the family to Europe. Horatio cannot leave, but he books passage for Anna and the girls on the Ville du Ave, hoping rest and reunion at Christmas will restore them all.


This episode read by the author D.P.K.Maegraith from the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn. Buy the book, learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Chapter 2 Earth Chapter 2 Earth Sun, 13 Sep 2026 08:20:56 GMT 10:38 6aa65bf8b54f356fc7566b29 false https://shows.acast.com/itiswellwithmysoulthebook/episodes/6aa65bf8b54f356fc7566b29 6aa65bf8b54f356fc7566b29 6a9f43680c7270061555e673 full Chicago, September 5, 1861 Horatio and Anna are married in a church filled with friends, including Dwight Moody.


The chapter looks back on how they met, how Horatio paid for her schooling and waited for her, and how their life together quickly filled with prosperity, a grand home and four daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and It is a season of wealth, reputation, and apparent blessing.


A mysterious stranger appears at the wedding and recites Isaiah 43, leaving the couple with the sense that they have heard the voice of God on the happiest day of their lives.


This episode read by the author D.P.K.Maegraith from the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn. Buy the book, learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Chicago, September 5, 1861 Horatio and Anna are married in a church filled with friends, including Dwight Moody.


The chapter looks back on how they met, how Horatio paid for her schooling and waited for her, and how their life together quickly filled with prosperity, a grand home and four daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and It is a season of wealth, reputation, and apparent blessing.


A mysterious stranger appears at the wedding and recites Isaiah 43, leaving the couple with the sense that they have heard the voice of God on the happiest day of their lives.


This episode read by the author D.P.K.Maegraith from the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn. Buy the book, learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> It Is Well with My Soul the book Chapter 1 Norway It Is Well with My Soul the book Chapter 1 Norway Mon, 07 Sep 2026 23:11:16 GMT 7:01 6a9f4495d024784c998b290f false https://shows.acast.com/itiswellwithmysoulthebook/episodes/6a9f4495d024784c998b290f 6a9f4495d024784c998b290f 6a9f43680c7270061555e673 full This chapter opens in Stavanger, Norway, in 1846.


Four-year-old Anna Larsson learns her family is leaving their small fishing town for America. The voyage, the first sight of New York, and the long journey to Chicago follow. In the New World she loses her brother to cholera, then her mother, then her father, and becomes an orphan taken in by the church.


She changes her name to Lawson, grows into a young woman of faith and resilience, and meets the older lawyer Horatio Spafford, who waits until she is eighteen before asking her to marry him.


This episode read by the author D.P.K.Maegraith from the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn. Buy the book, learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> This chapter opens in Stavanger, Norway, in 1846.


Four-year-old Anna Larsson learns her family is leaving their small fishing town for America. The voyage, the first sight of New York, and the long journey to Chicago follow. In the New World she loses her brother to cholera, then her mother, then her father, and becomes an orphan taken in by the church.


She changes her name to Lawson, grows into a young woman of faith and resilience, and meets the older lawyer Horatio Spafford, who waits until she is eighteen before asking her to marry him.


This episode read by the author D.P.K.Maegraith from the novella It Is Well with My Soul: The Inspiring Story of Horatio Spafford, the Great Chicago Fire, and the Famous Hymn. Buy the book, learn about the film at https://itiswellwithmysoul.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>