Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:5-12, Romans 8:26-30, 2 Corinthians 1:20-22, Hebrews 9:11-14
I don’t have just one sweet tooth. I have a mouth full of them. But don’t tell my dentist, because the mere mention will probably pre-qualify me for a shiny set of dentures down the road. Chocolate chip cookie dough, funnel cakes with powdered sugar, sour gummies that make your mouth pucker—I’m here for all of it.
Candy, along with other types of “sweets,” like newborn kittens and handwritten notes, are indulgences, unnecessary delights. But when Louisa Stead wrote the hymn, “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus,” I don’t think it was in response to cotton candy swirls or a beautiful stroll in the park.
In fact, it was a very tragic day at Long Island Sound. What began as a perfectly sunny morning for Louisa, her husband, and their young daughter, Lily, quickly turned into the unfortunate. They sat on the embankment together enjoying a picnic lunch when, all of a sudden, they were interrupted by the sights and sounds of a young boy drowning in the water. Louisa’s husband jumped in after him, but neither the boy nor the man attempting to rescue him survived. Walking away from the scene a grieving widow and single parent, Louisa’s circumstances were anything but sweet. Yet, these are the words she chose to write:
‘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!”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!
When our lives reflect the brokenness of this world, it is then that we see trusting Jesus for what it truly is: an absolute necessity. We need Him, but His trustworthiness is what makes trusting Him with our need so much sweeter.
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus when our worlds are spinning deliciously on their centers, when we’re steady and our sights are set on sugary delights we don’t need. It is sweet to trust in a God who desires to give His children abundantly good things. And ‘tis so sweet to trust in Jesus when everything has fallen apart and nothing resembles the life we’re used to, when we’re disoriented and unable to fix our attention on anything but present pain. It is sweet to trust in Jesus, who identifies with our sufferings and carried them for us in His body and to the cross.
While I would never wish Louisa’s loss on anyone, her story lends credibility to those of us (all of us, really) who have felt similar pain, giving us the confidence to proclaim the kindness of our God, even when our circumstances feel anything but kind. When she wrote this hymn, I don’t think Louisa was claiming that her grief had suddenly disappeared by trusting Jesus. Instead, what I hear in her words is the surprise, the sweet relief, that she could still trust Him, come what may. We can, too. O for grace to trust Him more!
‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Text: Louisa M. R. Stead, 1882
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take Him at His word;
just to rest upon His promise,
and 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!
O for grace to trust Him more!
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust His cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood! Refrain
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. Refrain
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. Refrain
Mari, I have missed seeing your posts. Praying you and your family are well and that the Lord is blessing you all in amazing ways
Churchmouse!! How sweet of you to think of me. I’ve had a little bit of problems with the app on my phone. And I seem to be having problems again. I am doing OK. Your prayers are really appreciated! I am still separated from the kids dad along with other issues going on. Your Continued prayers are appreciated as I’m working on something that has to get done and I need to have important conversations with my kids. Please pray for my son he is on a weeklong summer Christian camp. Praying that God will do HIS mighty work on my son. And also my daughter will be attending a youth conference Thursday and Friday. I’m praying that she will be open to what God has for her. I’m praying this for both my kids.
Wow.
I am at awe that some of the most precious memorable hymns I know, were written after a tragedy in the author’s life. In fact some of Psalms we know were written after a tragedy as well. Yet, each of the authors praised the Lord despite their circumstances. What does that say about how I deal with “disappointment” from the Lord?
I grew up singing hymns and listening to my Mother play them. She was the church pianist and still sings hymns at agez86 robustly with her 89 year old sister. There were 4 sisters and they sang all the time together because their Dad was a pastor. So my heart resonates with hymns. There are times the load of grief is so wearisome all you can do is rest upon the Word that hopefully has been stored up in your heart. I became a widow overnight 8 years ago when I received a call from overseas that my husband ,who was on a business trip, had not awakened one morning for work. We were married 27 years and had 3 children in college at the time. It is not always easy to trust but it is sweet and restful when I am obedient. The Lord has been faithful for the past 8 years and I trust He will be to the end.
Sending you love and hugs dear Donna… xx
Loving this devotional today! I’m 38.5 weeks pregnant with our second and last night, my husband and I were discussing the big change coming to our family. He expressed that he is feeling the pressure and stress of doing really well at work so that he can provide for us and take care of all of us while I’m recovering in the first few weeks. These verses are such a reminder that we can lean on Him and trust Him to get us through this big and wonderful transition ♥️
Praying peace and joy over you all..as this new season and life changing approaches… wishing you well Lindsey and praying provision so your husband is able to enjoy the arrival of the gift to come…
Blessings..xxx
How I needed to read this today!! I received a skin cancer diagnosis last week. My world feels like it’s turned upside down. My husband is a pastor and sometimes I feel like he puts the needs of the church and parishioners ahead of me. I don’t think he truly understands how this diagnosis has affected me. This is my reassurance that I can trust him in the diagnosis and the upcoming surgeries to remove the cancer. In the middle of all of this, we are moving to a new house and the stress from all is sometimes a little much. But I thank God for the reassurance that I can trust him in the small things and the big things. “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him. How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er.”
Sarah… lifting you up in prayer and praying peace in this season you walk…
Sending love and hugs wrapped in prayers Sarah …xx
I’m so sorry, Sarah. Please know you are being prayed for today. Jesus is so worthy to be trusted, sees and feels your hurts and concerns and holds you in His loving arms. May He shower you with overwhelming peace and comfort during this especially vulnerable time.
When my world spun around so fast that in a blink of an eye.. my life was changed forever.. i did think of Jesus.. I did think of God.. not for anything good, but in wonder… did He not hear my prayers? Did they not see this young life worthy of living? Did He not see the look of hope dwindling with each day that rolled into the next? Did He not see the heart that was so stretched fear had set in?
I ranted and I cried.. I accused and I blamed.. I hurled words I had no right to hurl..
But God..
Oh, But God…
He listened to this broken hearted mother who’s life had been set up side down, devastated to a point where hope was lost Forever, it seemed.. where her only thinking was to follow her child cos there was no life to live anymore… heart so broken, pieces could never be put together again… He listened and He loved and He held.. until there was no more ranting and raving… just much needed rest.. then and only then did God speak… in a picture of where my beloved was.. i can tell you now as i cry and tears roll down my cheeks.. i have learnt to trust in Jesus… i have learnt to take Him at His Word… I have learnt to rest on His promises.. and boy is it sweet!
Life is never easy and this one foot in front of the other, one day at a time journey.. has been made possible because of Jesus.. Precious Jesus, Savoir, Friend… who has walked with me through the thick and the thin.. the lows and the lowest.. to raise me up higher than I could have imagined… to where i am today..
Life and rest.. joy and peace.. ALL because of Jesus…
‘Tis sweet to trust in Jesus…
Amen..
Wishing you well with love wrapped hugs and prayers…xx
love and hugs to you Tina <3
❤️
Your post is raw and beautiful and tears of gratitude are flowing that I have met such a woman as you right here. God is good. Thank you God! Thank you, my friend across the pond. I look forward to that day when we can have tea (you) and coffee (me) together.
Tina, Your words are so full of God’s wisdom. In your posts you use But God, quite often. My favorite two words in the Bible. We were dead in our sins, But God! We would be so lost and without hope but for those words. Jesus, our Savior !! Thank you for always sharing your heart!
Tina I too lost a son, mine had just turned 18 when he died, so I know the emotions you have gone through. I also know that had it not been for my trust in Jesus and my trust in God I would not be where I am today. God bless and keep asking Jesus for help during the hard times (especially on the anniversary on his death and his birthday those are my hardest times.)
Dorothy. I am truly sorry for the loss of your dear son..
Praying you know His peace and loving arms as you navigate life without him… it’s hard… but God…
All praise and Glory to Him who holds us each in His loving arms and comforting love..
Love and hugs to you dear Dorothy…
“How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er”. The one constant in my life has been God’s faithfulness to me despite my rebellion, my heartaches, my circumstances. I can take him at His word and rest upon His promise. My Abba Father….
Amen sister amen