I was recently reminded of the story behind the beloved old hymn, Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, written by Louisa M. R. Stead.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus says 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;
Just 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFdrQcfLT9g

Louisa, her husband and their 4-year-old daughter were enjoying a picnic on Long Island Sound in 1882, when they heard a young boy scream. The boy was drowning, and her husband ran in to save him. Tragically, they both drowned. Louisa and Lily could only watch in horror as they died. Louisa was now a widow with no means of support. But God provided. Later they would move to South Africa were Louisa married Robert Wodehouse. She was able to fulfill her dream of becoming a missionary, retiring from the mission field in 1911.

Now, I will challenge you to look at those lyrics and at Louisa and the horror of watching her husband die. How did she write those words? Even after such a tragedy, Louisa was still able to trust in Jesus. She didn’t blame him. She didn’t curse him and turn away. She remembered that even in the midst of the storm, when we don’t know WHY things are happening, we can still TRUST in him.

My greatest fear is that I will lose my husband. I can relate so much to Louisa and her struggle. How did she go on? How did she wake up each day and manage to make it through another day? But fear, my friends is our enemy and dwelling on what might or might not happen only fuels the fires of anxiety and pain. We must force ourselves to trust, even when we cannot see.

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” I have at times described my life as a puzzle, with the pieces all coming together, even when I couldn’t see the whole picture. At times when I doubted, when I was afraid, God still was in control and he was arranging the pieces of my life, so that once completed, it would make a beautiful picture. More beautiful and blessed than I would have ever imagined.

Louisa didn’t know how many people would be touched by her simple poem. Once put to music, it became an iconic hymn sung still today. How many people have been encouraged by those words? So today, in the midst of your storm, close your eyes and talk to him. Sing this song to the Lord and force the fear from your heart.  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!

If you’d like feel the peace of trusting him, please follow this link, https://stepstopeace.org/.