This is from a long poem on the life of Jesus that was written in 1866. It is said that the author had a serious spell of sickness just before this poem was composed, and that she occupied the long days of convalescence in writing the poem.
This hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford’s life, the Chicago Fire of 1871, and the death of all his daughters in a ship accident. The lyrics speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain befall them on earth.
Cleland B. McAfee wrote these words after two of his nieces died from diphtheria. The Park College choir sang the new hymn outside the quarantined house.
While a pastor in Lockport, NY, Maltbie D. Babcock liked to hike in an area called “the escarpment.” It has a marvelous view of farms, orchards, and Lake Ontario, about 15 miles distant. It is said those walks in the woods inspired these lyrics.
