I didn’t grow up in a hymnal singing church and only recently discovered hymns of the faith. I have been enthralled with their beautiful melodies and rich biblical truths.
As I learn new hymns, I will post them on the blog with the lyrics, music, and their stories. In sharing these hymns, I hope you will discover or rediscover this beautiful heritage of Christianity and that it will inspire your faith in Christ.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
Louisa M.R Stead wrote the lyrics to this hymn in 1882.
She was born in 1850 in Dover, England, then moved to the United States in 1871. One day, Louisa attended a revival meeting and felt God’s call to the mission field. She decided to go to China but her ill health prevented her.
So Louisa remained in Ohio, got married to a Mr. Stead in 1875, and gave birth to a girl named Lily.
On a fateful summer day in 1879 or 1880, Louisa and her family went on a picnic on Long Island Sound. But they were interrupted by the screams of a boy who was drowning.
Mr. Stead plunged in the water to save the child but alas couldn’t make it. And they both drowned as Louisa and Lily helplessly watched. Some accounts say Mr. Stead saved the boy, and others say it was his daughter he rescued. Whichever the case, Mr. Stead died.
With a child to take care of and no husband to support her, Louisa quickly became poor and destitute. But God was faithful; He provided for them, and they made it through. This painful experience taught Louisa to trust and depend on God despite their desperate circumstances.
Shortly after, Louisa and Lily moved to South Africa to become missionaries. And it was during that time that Louisa penned the words of Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.
Louisa stayed in South Africa for 15 years and got remarried to a man named Robert Wodehouse. But they both returned to the United States in 1895 due to Louisa’s ill health.
Five years later, Louisa was back to health, so they returned to the mission field this time in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). Louisa served as a missionary until her retirement in 1911. She died in 1917.
William J. Kirkpatrick put her words to music.
Full lyrics of Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Lyrics and story from: Morgan, Robert. Then Sings My Soul. Nashville, Thomas Nelson. Page 210
