'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

 

Some of the greatest songs ever written are born of tragedy and pain. Songs like “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton or “All of My Love” by Robert Plant are just a couple of songs that come to mind from the secular genre that were written because of the pain of loss. One of the most well-known hymns, “It Is Well With My Soul,” is a beautiful song born of the tragic loss of Horatio Spafford’s family.

 

Authored by English native Louisa M. R. Stead and published in 1882, this hymn speaks of the sweet joy of trusting Jesus. The inspiration for the hymn, however, was the tragic loss of her husband, George. While they, with their 4-year-old daughter, were enjoying a day at the beach, George jumped into action upon hearing the cries of a young boy drowning. After spotting the boy, he went in after him. But, in the struggle, tragically, both drowned. Louisa and her daughter Lily could only watch helplessly from the shore.

 

The lyrics came from Louisa’s healing process. Like other songs written from tragedy, they become the language for re-discovering joy after sorrow. “Tis So Sweet” is no different. From her pain, she writes of the rest, grace, and healing that flows from trusting in Jesus.

'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."

Isaiah 44:6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.’” God is sovereign, and there is no question. In times of joy and rejoicing and in times of sorrow and loss, He is God and He alone is sovereign. “When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head” (Charles Spurgeon).

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!

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.

These stanzas are testimonial in nature. They give us the language of understanding, desire, and orientation. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). This is not hope as the modern Western culture throws it out in a sentence as though it may happen, but it may not. This hope is a rather confident expectation, and some theologians would insert the word certainty. Paul is not giving us a benediction but the truth that Jesus is the Messiah that the prophecies foretold. We don’t trust in Him hoping (western definition) that He will hear us and maybe give us “life and rest, and joy and peace.” We trust in Him, knowing He will.

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!

In Mark’s gospel, we read the story of a boy healed of an unclean spirit. This spirit made him mute, and at times, the boy would foam at the mouth, grind his teeth, and become rigid, and the disciples could not cast the spirit out (Mark 9:17-18). Jesus spoke to the father of the boy regarding his condition and history (vs. 21-22). And then Jesus said to the boy’s father, “If you Can! All things are possible for one who believes” (vs. 23). Upon hearing this, the father immediately responded, “I believe; help my unbelief” (vs. 24). Jesus then cast out the unclean spirit, and the boy was healed. What does this tell us? Even on fragile faith, Jesus will respond. “O for grace to trust him more!”

Despite an illness that plagued her throughout her life, Louisa went on to fulfill her missionary calling in South Africa. She remarried and her daughter also married and continued in missionary work in Zimbabwe.