“‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus”

1 ‘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!

2 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]

3 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]

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

Written by Louisa M.R. Stead

Dear God, I heard my wife playing something on the piano this morning as she prepared to sing at church in about an hour. I don’t think she played this song, but whatever she was playing put the earworm of this song in my head. I just found myself singing it to myself as I walked in here to pray. Thank you for that. Thank you for giving the world this song through Louisa M.R. Stead and teaching it to me so that it is something that lives with me.

So I figured I would just sit with the lyrics this morning and try to bask in them a little. I could use a little comfort. I could use a little direction. I could use your presence. I could use some rejecting of idols and putting trust in you.

1 ‘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.”

Sometimes I try to put myself in the mindset of the person writing this at the time. What were they experiencing from an emotional or even worshipful standpoint as they put down these words. Was their strife in their life? Was Mrs. Stead trying to just break it all down and simplify her faith into trusting Jesus and his words. Resting on the promises you gave us that are beyond this life. Turning loose of what is here in our physical world to embrace the promises you give us for eternity. Those are good reminders for me too.

2 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!

Oh, to be clean. Again, I forget sometimes just how much you’ve forgiven me for. Just how much you’ve done for me. When I am unforgiving it can usually be remedied by remembering how much you’ve forgiven me through Jesus’s life, brutal death, and resurrection. I’ve been plunged beneath the healing, cleansing flood!

3 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 like the words that I will stop living in my sin and selfishness. I lay it all down and I embrace life, rest, joy, and peace.

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!

I pray that this can be my song. I pray that when people see me they will see that I am nobody without you and that they will want some of that for themselves. I have proved you o’er and o’er. Please give me your grace and help me to trust you even more today.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen