January 14, 2005

Trusting Jesus

Edgar Page Stites, 1836-1921

      Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5.

    "Simply trusting every day" along a "stormy way," "in danger" when "the path is drear" "if the way is clear" -- what a valuable lesson for each of us to learn. We are so prone to look ahead in life to see how our problems will be solved or where our path will lead. We waste much time and energy in worrying instead of simply trusting, delighting, and committing our ways to the Lord. That's how to find His strength and wisdom to face our problems and responsibilities for tomorrow and all the days ahead. Edgar Stites, an obscure but active lay worker, had learned that spiritual lesson. He discovered that "while He leads I cannot fall." God's way in our lives is always far superior to the path we might have chosen.
    The writer of Trusting Jesus was a faithful member of the Methodist church in Cape May, New Jersey. After serving in the Civil War, he worked as a riverboat pilot and later as a home missionary in the Dakotas. He wrote several other hymns, including the very popular Beulah Land.
    Mr. Stites' poem first appeared in a newspaper in 1876. It was then given to evangelist D.L. Moody, who in turn asked his associate, Ira Sankey, to compose a suitable tune for the words. The hymn was widely used in the Moody-Sankey evangelistic services, and through the years Christians have responded to the implicit, child-like faith expressed so well in this simple but inspiring hymn.

    Simply trust ev'ry day, trusting thru a stormy way; even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus -- that is all.
    Brightly does His Spirit shine into this poor heart of mine; while He leads I cannot fall, trusting Jesus -- that is all.
    Singing if my way is clear, praying if the path be drear; if in danger, for Him call, trusting Jesus -- that is all.
    Trusting Him while life shall last, trusting Him till earth be past; till within the jasper wall, trusting Jesus, that is all.
Chorus:  Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by; trusting Him whate'er befall, trusting Jesus -- that is all.