Romans Reflection – It Is Well

All through our study of Romans, we see that this inward war is taking place continually, and the battleground is the mind. Victory depends almost entirely on knowledge; how well we know what’s happening in our spirit and how well we understand the deception of the things of this world.

That knowledge can only be found one way, through the study of the Word of Truth, divided rightly.

2 Timothy 2:15 says,

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

That’s why the hymn “It Is Well” is so inspiring, because it shows a believer armed with the sure and certain knowledge of who he is in Christ.

That knowledge was absolutely real, and he was so certain of it that he was able to have a perspective in the midst of tragedy that settled him and brought him contentment.

He could see through that tragedy to the truth of who he was because of what Jesus Christ had done on his behalf and how his eternal glory was guaranteed. God never supernaturally intervened to stop the tragedy from happening; He gave Spafford the strength, through knowledge, to be content in the face of it.

That knowledge didn’t come as some sort of lightning bolt from God; it came from a thirst to know truth and a willingness to study God’s Word to find it.

No other path would have afforded him the ability to see the truth of who and what he was so clearly as to bring contentment in the face of such awful pain and sorrow.

In November 1873, after losing his real estate wealth in the Chicago fires, Spafford decided to take his entire family to Europe for a vacation. He was also going to assist the evangelist, DL Moody, in his work once he arrived there.

However, Spafford was unexpectedly held up in Chicago, but decided to send his family on ahead aboard the S.S. Ville du Havre as scheduled.

Midway through the trans-Atlantic voyage, the ship was struck by the English vessel Loch Earn and sank. Spafford’s four daughters—Anna, 11; Maggie, 9; Bessie, 7; and Tanetta, 2—were among the 226 who perished. Mrs Spafford, who was one of the few who were spared, sent her husband the heartbreaking telegram: “Saved alone.”

Spafford immediately sailed for England to join his grief-stricken wife. As his ship passed the approximate location where his daughters had drowned, his deep sorrow, mingled with his unwavering faith in God’s goodness, caused him to pen the words of this hymn and those words have comforted countless souls suffering personal tragedy through the last century and a half.

Paul was saved on the road to Damascus, on the way to persecute Peter and his group of believers. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him and saved him by his grace and gave him salvation and a commission. He told Paul He was going to send him to the Gentiles, to kings, to the children of Israel, in fact, to everybody, with this message that we today know as the Mystery of Christ.

It’s the revelation that the Lord Jesus Christ gave to Paul of there being a one-body church, a church made up of Jew and Gentile, male and female, bond and free, who can benefit from what Christ did and the riches he made available to us through His finished work on the cross.

It’s this message that’s now made known through the mystery of Paul. That’s what we’re studying in our verse-by-verse journey through Romans.

The hymn “It Is Well” displays true Christian contentment.

Many think contentment means to “stop buying things,” or “never desire anything,” or “always keep smiling, even in the midst of tragedy.”

1 Timothy 6:8 says,

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But contentment is not simply owning very little. It’s not pretending to be happy, nor is it stoicism or emotionlessness- the state of having no outward emotional response. Paul wept, suffered, hungered, and still learned contentment.

Contentment doesn’t mean refusing to improve our life. We work because we’ve got to provide for our home. We grow spiritually because we shouldn’t stay where we are and become stagnant.

Even Jesus was not “happy” going to the cross, yet He was content in the Father’s will.

So contentment’s not pretending to be pleased with every circumstance that befalls us; it’s something much deeper.

Contentment means a satisfied, settled mind—a mind at rest because it’s grounded in God’s truth. That’s why Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:6,

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Contentment alone’s not enough.

The world seeks personal satisfaction, but biblical contentment is joined to godliness. It’s the inner stability that comes from knowing who we are in Christ and what God has promised.

The word “content” carries the idea of something held together, undisturbed and complete. Our life may change, our circumstances may rise or fall, but our inner man remains steady because it’s filled with Christ.

That’s why Paul could say in Philippians 4:11,

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

He wasn’t always comfortable, but he was always grounded.

Philippians 4:9–11 shows how. He tells believers to do the things they’ve learned and seen in him, and “the God of peace shall be with you.”

Contentment’s tied to peace—peace that comes from knowing God’s will, trusting His purpose, and letting His Word settle our mind. It’s not passive; Paul learned it through suffering, hunger, imprisonment, and abundance.

Biblical contentment means our mind is anchored in Christ, not in changing circumstances. We may desire improvement, we may feel sorrow, we may face hardship, but our inner man remains satisfied because God’s grace is sufficient. Contentment is the fruit of knowing God’s will, trusting His purpose, and walking in godliness. That’s why godliness with contentment is great gain.

To understand why Paul tells believers to follow what they’ve “learned and received and heard and seen” in him, we look at Paul’s life.

In 2 Corinthians 11:24–27, he lists beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, hunger, danger, imprisonment and many more afflictions that he suffered. These are not situations anyone would naturally feel “content” in, yet Paul says he learned to be content in every state. Contentment’s not pretending suffering’s pleasant; it’s a settled mind grounded in Christ.

When Horatio Spafford wrote this hymn, “It Is Well”, he’d lost his children and his wealth, yet he could still say “it is well with my soul.” He wasn’t denying grief; the words of the song clearly show that his grief was very real, but he had learned the same truth Paul learned: contentment is an inner rest that doesn’t depend on outward circumstances.

Paul also knew abundance.

He had wealthy friends, received gifts, and he was raised in Tarsus and educated under the great Jewish scholar Gamaliel. Galatians 1:14 shows he advanced in the Jews’ religion and enjoyed privilege. He also worked with his own hands to provide for others. He knew both comfort and hardship. His lesson was not that poverty is holy or wealth is sinful, but that neither condition determines the peace of his mind.

Again, Philippians 4:11–12 explains it:

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Contentment is the ability to live with a satisfied, stable mind whether we have little or a lot, whether life is easy or painful. It’s not the removal of desire for something better in life, or the denial of suffering, or a forced smile. It’s the inner strength to remain at rest because our satisfaction comes from Christ.

Paul’s secret is in Philippians 4:13:

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

His contentment came from Christ’s strengthening, not from circumstances.

His mind was gratified and settled because Christ was enough. That’s why he could endure suffering without despair and enjoy abundance without pride. He’d learned to anchor his peace in Christ alone.

Many people never learn contentment because they chase satisfaction in changing conditions and circumstances—more money, better health, or an improved lifestyle- but even when they reach those goals, they want more.

Biblical contentment is different: it’s the learned ability to be at peace before circumstances change, because Christ is the source of rest.

Some believers have never faced deep poverty, sickness, or hardship, while others have never known abundance. Paul did, which taught him how to be content in all states. Contentment is not escaping difficulty but learning, through Christ, how to live with a steady mind in every condition and in every circumstance.

This is godliness with contentment, the “great gain” of 1 Timothy 6:6. It’s the result, the fruit of trusting Christ, knowing His will, and letting His strength settle our inner man no matter what happens outwardly.

When Paul says in Philippians 4:13,

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” his point is that contentment comes from inner strength, not outward comfort. Being content is not about how much we own or about smiling through pain. It’s about being strengthened in the inner man so we can endure any circumstance with a mind settled in Christ.

Ephesians 3 shows Paul praying that believers would be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.”

Contentment is this inner stability. A raise at work, a loss of either material possessions or a loved one, sickness, wealth—none of these makes us stronger or weaker spiritually.

Christ dwelling in our heart by faith is the source of strength.

When our deepest joy and satisfaction come from knowing Christ, we can be rooted and grounded in love, able to comprehend the breadth and depth of His grace, and filled with the fullness of God. That’s true contentment.

Contentment is not guilt over having money, or pride in lacking it; it’s knowing that our identity’s not defined by our paycheck, our bank account, our material “stuff”, our health, or our status.

Ephesians 3:19 describes contentment as being “filled with all the fullness of God.” It’s stability that comes from knowledge—knowing Christ’s love, knowing our position in Him, knowing the hope of resurrection.

When 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “godliness with contentment is great gain,” the gain is not the contentment itself; the gain is godliness, which makes contentment possible.

Godliness is living with a heart and mind shaped by God’s truth so that our character, conduct, and purpose reflect Him rather than ourselves.

Without godliness, contentment is fragile and temporary. With godliness, contentment is anchored in Christ.

Philippians 4:6-7 says,

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Be careful for nothing!

In our modern world today, we use the word careful differently from what’s intended here in Philippians. The word “careful” is often translated as anxious: be anxious for nothing or be full of care about nothing. It’s the same word Jesus used when He spoke to Martha in Luke 10:41.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

Be careful for nothing! How can we do that? We bring everything to God in prayer.

The promise is not that we’ll receive everything we ask, but that “the peace of God… shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

In Philippians 4, before Paul even mentions prayer, he gives four instructions.

First, stand fast in the Lord (Philippians 4:1).

Second, be of the same mind in the Lord (Philippians 4:2). Believers share one faith and one Lord, so our thinking must be shaped by sound doctrine.

Third, rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). Before asking God for anything, believers should thank Him and rejoice in what He’s already done. This guards us from years of confusion and discontent, especially when making life decisions. God’s already given every believer a purpose: to be in Christ, to edify His body, and to help see souls saved and saints strengthened. Whatever job or path we choose should serve that larger calling.

Fourth, Paul says, let your moderation be known unto all men (Philippians 4:5). Moderation means stability—being able to walk the “tightrope” of life without being thrown off by extreme highs or lows.

When our contentment is tied to wealth, health, or circumstances, we’ll be unstable. When our contentment is in Christ, nothing can move us.

Romans 8 says nothing—life, death, angels, or anything else—can separate us from His love. That’s true contentment: being content, immovable, unshakable because our inner man is strengthened in Him.

 

As in Galatians 5:1, our identity is in Christ, and our hope of glory is in Him. Knowing that is contentment: a strengthened inner man, a settled mind, and a life anchored in Christ regardless of circumstances.

We can stand fast in Christ because His finished work, not our performance, gives liberty and strength.

Many religious people live in discontent because they try to please God through their own effort. Grace frees us from that burden. So Paul says, “hold fast the form of sound words” and stand firm in what Christ has done.

This is why Paul prays that believers be strengthened in their inner man.

If something in our life disrupts our peace with God, that’s where we’re not yet content. True contentment means no circumstance can shake our standing in Christ. Many Christians misuse the word “content” as if it means dullness or lack of joy. But biblical contentment is strength, being firmly grounded in Christ so that whether we abound or suffer loss, we remain steady.

Paul learned to be rich and to be poor, to abound and to be abased, and to be at peace in all states.

Contentment is not about refusing joy or refusing desire; it’s about refusing to let anything replace Christ as our foundation. When believers rejoice in the Lord, share the same mind, stand fast in doctrine, and live moderately, they become stable, useful, and able to endure whatever comes.

This is why ministry matters: believers strengthen one another so they can stand fast, rejoice, and remain content in Christ. Contentment’s not a burden—it’s the strength of the inner man, built on the doctrines of Jesus Christ, enabling believers to live confidently and peacefully in every circumstance.

The world doesn’t understand contentment because it doesn’t know what it means to be strengthened in Christ. People look for satisfaction in small pleasures—sports, entertainment, fun, comfort—and their joy rises or falls with the circumstances associated with those things, such as the joy when our favourite football team wins and the depression when it loses.

But Paul, even while in prison, said he had learned to be content. Contentment is not natural; it must be learned through Christ.

Ephesians 3 shows Paul praying that believers would be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man,” and that “Christ would dwell in their hearts by faith,” and that they would “know His love and be filled with the fullness of God.”

This’s the foundation of contentment. Only Christ can strengthen the inner man. That’s why Horatio Spafford could write “It is well with my soul” through the tragedy of his grief. That grief was real, but his inner man was anchored in Christ’s resurrection.

Contentment must be learned in both abundance and poverty. Paul had wealth, education, and privilege, but he also suffered hunger, beatings, and imprisonment. He learned how to abound without pride and how to be abased without despair.

Many of us never learn either lesson. Some people feed every dissatisfaction with material goods or holidays or some other distraction because they have the means to do so. Others feel trapped in dissatisfaction because they don’t have the means to “buy their way out of it”. Few people from these groups ever learn to rest in Christ. Contentment is learning to be stable in Christ before circumstances change.

Rich believers should learn how to be rich.

1Timothy 6:17 says they should not be high‑minded or trust in uncertain riches, but trust in the living God who gives richly all things to enjoy.

Riches are not evil, but they should be used in the right way, for good works, generosity, and ministry. Riches are a tool, not a source of identity. Paul learned to abound by giving, not by indulging himself.

Poor believers should learn how to be poor. Poverty doesn’t make someone spiritual; many people suffer from greed and don’t have a dollar, but poverty can teach dependence on Christ.

Paul counted all his former gains as loss for the excellency of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8).

If we can’t be at rest until we reach a certain level of income, we’ve not learned contentment.

Paul lost everything when he followed Christ.

He left his status under Gamaliel, and he says in Philippians 3:8 that he “suffered the loss of all things” for the excellency of knowing Christ.

In Philippians 3:10, he adds that he learned the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. Christ willingly left heavenly glory, took on human weakness, and endured pain for us. So when Paul suffered loss, he learned—on a small scale—what Christ gave up, and learned to trust Christ as his strength.

Being poor doesn’t mean we’ve got to stay poor, but we can be content in poverty because Christ became poor for us.

Paul also learned how to suffer physical weakness.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, he describes the thorn in his flesh. He prayed three times for its removal, but Christ answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul learned that weakness is not a failure; it’s an opportunity for Christ’s strength to be seen. He didn’t pretend to be strong. He admitted his infirmity and gloried in it so that the power of Christ might rest upon him.

When he was weak, he preached Christ more clearly, and people listened because they saw Christ’s strength, not Paul’s.

Weakness also equips believers to comfort others.

In 2 Corinthians 1:4–6, Paul says that when he suffers, he receives comfort from Christ so he can comfort others who suffer.

If we’ve never been weak, we can’t minister well to the weak. If we’ve never been strong, we can’t bear the infirmities of the weak. Ephesians 6:10 says, “Be strong in the Lord.”

Strong believers—whether strong in health, wealth, or knowledge—should use their strength for others. Galatians 6 says the spiritual should restore the weak. The body of Christ needs both strong and weak members as well as rich and poor, each learning how to live in Christ.

Believers should also learn how to be busy.

Ephesians 5:16 talks about “redeeming the time,” or making time count. Many people are so busy today, but they haven’t learned how to use their time for the Lord. Others are bored because their minds are inactive. Boredom is not a lack of activity; it’s a lack of thought. Philippians 4:8 commands believers to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. Some need to learn to slow down and think. Others need to learn to fill their minds with godly things instead of drifting along in apathy.

Contentment touches every condition—rich or poor, strong or weak, busy or still. It is not pretending, or forcing a smile, or denying reality; it’s learning Christ in every circumstance. Paul learned to rejoice when he both abounded and was abased, when both full and hungry. His strength was Christ. His stability was Christ. His contentment was Christ, and that same strength is available to every believer who learns to rest in Him.

Philippians 4 teaches believers to make their requests known to God, 1 Thessalonians 5 says to pray without ceasing, and Ephesians 6 says to pray for others.

Prayer is not inactivity; it’s learning to watch, to think, and to see where others need help.

Some are too busy to stop to notice the needs of the body of Christ. Others have nothing to do from day to day and yet still never look around them.

Paul says to pray and watch so we can help wisely.

The common thread in every condition—busy or still, strong or weak, rich or poor—is that all believers are in Christ.

Contentment means our mind is at rest because Christ has given us all spiritual blessings.

Horatio Spafford understood this. Before tragedy struck, he was wealthy and blessed. After the Chicago fire destroyed his fortune and after his four daughters drowned, he wrote “It Is Well With My Soul”, but he didn’t write it to deny his grief. He wrote it because he’d learned contentment in Christ long before the tragedy. Whether in peace “like a river” or when sorrow rolls in “like sea billows,” he had learned to say, “It is well with my soul.”

Spafford’s contentment rested on doctrine. He knew his sin—not in part but the whole of his sin—was nailed to the cross. He knew Christ bore it all. His praise was not for the tragedy but for Christ’s finished work.

That’s true biblical contentment: knowing that what Christ has done for us is greater than anything we can gain or lose in this life.

True contentment is stability of the inner man. It’s being strengthened by Christ, not by circumstances. It’s the godliness with contentment that is the great gain of 1 Timothy 6:6.

Whether in comfort or in loss, believers can say, “It is well with my soul,” because Christ strengthens us, secures us, and teaches us to be content in Him.

We’ve placed a YouTube version of “It Is Well” with the lyrics of the hymn below this recording.

May God be your centre in every circumstance you face in life, good or bad.