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Posted by Ashley on November 23rd, 2007 at 7:47am
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My church search continues. Yesterday I was thankful that the Baptist church I visited included a lot of gospel-centered hymns in their worship service. I used to dismiss traditional worship like this because the music itself wasn’t “contemporary.” But I’ve grown to love the old hymns because I actually *gasp* listen to the lyrics, lyrics which often point directly to the crucifixion, repentance, forgiveness of sins, the resurrection, and life in God’s grace.

Words like this indicate that the hymn writers of old seem to have had some firmly rooted grasp of the enormity of God’s sacrifice, and an unwavering trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness, more so than what I've seen in believers today.

One hymn we sang was Louisa Stead’s 1882 hymn, “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” The melody is plain; it can be played with just a piano but the words ring true:

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

And to take him at his Word

Just to rest upon His promise

And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Oh how sweet to trust in Jesus

How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust him more!

What struck me in this song was the last line I copied. Stead realized that trust in God is something that God grants us. It isn’t something we can “work up” in ourselves. Through our study of Scripture the Holy Spirit illuminates God’s words to us, and works in our hearts to help us grow in grace. Like, for example, in trusting God. Trust in God is a gift from God, and Stead freely asks the Lord to give her more of it.

I read that Stead penned this hymn after watching her husband drown. If that does not strike your heart, I don’t know what will. To watch the death of your loved one in front of you and then write a song, not about the pain of loss, or your broken dreams, but rather about how sweet it is to trust in Jesus, is more than almost the mind can comprehend.