“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.”
~Psalm 125:1 (NIV)
There are many things in life that test our trust in the Lord. We need to have a trust in God like the writer of this Psalm. He was able to have trust that could not be moved. A trust that could not be shaken. Is your trust in God unshakable?
I often enjoy reading the stories behind some of the great hymns that I have sang in church. The people who wrote them were so real with their faith in God. They wrote incredible lyrics and taught wonderful lessons with their hymns. Then when you know the story of their lives, it really makes the hymn that much richer. God has given the writers of these hymns great faith and trust in Him. They were ordinary people who chose to live extraordinary lives for God.
One of those many stories comes with a familiar hymn called “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” This hymn was written by Louisa M. R. Stead. Louisa was born in England and felt a call on her life for missionary service. She arrived in America in 1871. In 1875, she married her husband Mr. Stead and they had their daughter, Lily. When Lily was four years old, the family decided to spend the day at the beach at Long Island Sound, New York.
During their picnic lunch, the family heard cries for help and spotted a drowning boy in the water. Mr. Stead rushed into the sea to rescue the young boy. Unfortunately, the struggling boy pulled his rescuer under the water with him and both of them drowned.
Out of her struggle with God during the passing days, flowed these profound and thoughtful words—“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.”
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Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
(1) ‘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.”
CHORUS:
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.
(2) How I love to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood,
Just in simply faith to plunge me
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
(3) Yes, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
And from sin and self to cease.
Now from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest and joy and peace.
(4) I’m so glad I learned to trust Him,
precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that He is with me,
He’ll be with me to the end.
It’s easy to trust in God when things are going well, but it’s quite another thing to trust in God when things aren’t going well. Will you put your trust in God like Louisa did? I know it isn’t easy to lose someone you love because I’ve been there many times. I know there are many things we face that make it difficult for us to fully trust in God! But I also know that we are without excuse! We have no excuse not to trust in God! Louisa put it well in this hymn and we need to remember that God will always be with us. Just like the last verse says, “And I know He is with me, He’ll be with me to the end.” This is all you and I need to know to trust in God. May your trust in God be like Mount Zion: unshakable and strong!
Dear Father God, I don’t understand many things that happen in life, but I do trust You because I know You have a plan. I take You at Your word and know that You will continue to guide me in Your ways. Please help my faith in You to be unshakable and strong at all times!
I will Not be Shaken,
Sarah