It Is Well With My Soul (Horatio Spafford)

I was struck this evening at RUF as we sang this song - it doesn't mean what I've always thought it means.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Does this mean that in everything we should find peace? Be at rest? I always thought this was a hymn of comfort in the sense that everything's going to be okay. A "don't worry - be happy" type philosophy. But I was struck singing it this evening....

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.

This is the "wellness" - it's in Christ and in assurance of salvation. Nothing can strip that away from us. So it is well with me soul not because God promises to comfort the weak and wounded, but because, eternally speaking, we have already been saved. And nothing that we can ever say or do will change that.

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!

Woot.