Story Behind the Hymn: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Louisa M. R. Stead wrote this hymn: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. She was born in Dover, England, about 1850 and was converted at the age of 9. She emigrated to the United States in 1871 and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio.
You will find out the story behind the hymn what led Louisa to write this song. . .
At a camp meeting she volunteered to do missionary work in China but was rejected because of ill health.
Later she married, but after a few years, while on summer holiday, she witnessed her husband lose his life in a gallant attempt to rescue a boy who was struggling against the undertow off a Long Island beach. She was left with her 4-year-old daughter, Lily, without adequate support.
On one occasion she was reduced to such impoverished circumstances that there was no food left in the house.
Her prayer to the Lord to provide was answered miraculously the next morning when she found a basket of groceries, and money, on her doorstep. This experience led her to write the words of this hymn.
Stead’s early desire was to be fulfilled, for she emigrated to South Africa on her own and was a missionary in Cape Colony for 15 years.
In 1900 she married Robert Wodehouse, a South African Methodist minister. However, ill health caused them to go to America, where her husband served as a local Methodist pastor.
They were able to return to South Africa and were missionaries in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) until her death at Penkridge, near Umtali, on January 18, 1917.
The tune, unnamed but sometimes called TRUST IN JESUS, was composed especially for these words by William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921), and appeared in his Songs of Triumph, 1882, compiled by himself and John Robson Sweney.
Kaleb Brasee Music Piano Video
Watch the video below and listen to the “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” hymn.
” ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” Lyrics
‘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!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Oh, 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 Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Companion to the Seventh-day Hymnal, #524
