'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Some of the greatest songs ever written are born of tragedy and pain. Songs like “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton or “All of My Love” by Robert Plant are just a couple of songs that come to mind from the secular genre that were written because of the pain of loss. One of the most well-known hymns, “It Is Well With My Soul,” is a beautiful song born of the tragic loss of Horatio Spafford’s family. Authored by English native Louisa M. R. Stead and published in 1882, this hymn speaks of the sweet joy of trusting Jesus. The inspiration for the hymn, however, was the tragic loss of her husband, George. While they, with their 4-year-old daughter, were enjoying a day at the beach, George jumped into action upon hearing the cries of a young boy drowning. After spotting the boy, he went in after him. But, in the struggle, tragically, both drowned. Louisa and her daughter Lily could only watch helplessly from the shore. The lyrics came from Louisa’s healing proce