Christian Perspectives: Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

May 6, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jim Rintoul

Bethel Bible Chapel

I enjoy the singing of the old hymns of the faith.

The words seem to have a depth that leaves us much to ponder.

I often wonder what the authors of these hymns must have gone through to be able to pen such beautiful and thoughtful words.

One of those hymns is titled “Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus” written by Louisa Stead.

I am sure many reading this would know this hymn. The book “101 Hymn Stories” gives this account of her life:

Louisa Stead was born about 1850 at Dover England. As a youngster, she felt the call of God upon her life for missionary service. She arrived in America in 1871 and she lived for a time in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1875, Louisa married a Mr. Stead and they had a daughter, Lily. When the child was four years old, the family decided one day to enjoy the sunny beach at Long Island Sound, New York. While eating their picnic lunch, they suddenly heard cries for help and spotted a drowning boy in the sea. Mr. Stead charged into the water. The struggling boy pulled his rescuer under the water with him, and both drowned before the terrified eyes of wife and daughter. Out of her “why?” struggle with God during the ensuing days flowed these meaningful words form her soul:

‘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.’

A short time later, Mrs. Stead and her daughter left for South Africa, where Louisa worked diligently as a missionary in the Cape Colony for the next 15 years. She remarried and in 1895 her failing health made it necessary for the family to return to America for her recuperation. By 1900, Louisa’s health had improved sufficiently for the family to return once more to a Methodist missionary station at Umtali, in Southern Rhodesia.

After ten years of further service, ill health again forced Louisa to retire. Her daughter, Lily continued to serve for many years in this mission field of Southern Rhodesia. After several years of prolonged illness, Louisa died in 1917 at her home in Penkridge, near the Mutambara Mission, about fifty miles from Umtali. After her death, a fellow missionary wrote concerning the continued use of “Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus”.

He said “We miss her very much, but her influence goes on as our five thousand native Christians continually sing this hymn in their native tongue.”

It has been said that a believer must learn to exercise such a strong trust in God’s providence during the good days of life that, when the despairing times with their accompanying doubts come, which surely they do to all, trusting Jesus continues to be the normal pattern of living.

This hymn was written by a most remarkable woman, Louisa M. R. Stead, out of one of her darkest hours – the tragic drowning of her husband.

I can only hope that each one of us would have a walk with God that is so close that even the storms of life cannot shake our love for Him.