Louisa, her husband and four-year-old daughter decided to spend a family day at a beach in Long Island, New York. While there, the husband charges in the water to rescue a drowning boy. The boy does not accept the help, instead he pulls the man in while the bewildered and helpless wife watches in horror. Out of this tragedy, she penned the song,
‘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.”
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!
What comes out of your mouth when you find yourself in the midst of tragedy, in the middle of that difficult situation that God allows you to endure all for his glory?
In St. John 9:1-3, Jesus and his disciples converse about a particular man born blind,
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Her Eyes were Open
God in His infinite wisdom often times allows tragedy. In Genesis, Hagar cries out to God when the water they had finished and all that loomed over her was death. Yet, an angel of the Lord spoke to her and in that moment her eyes were open to see the well of water that the “Way Maker” had already supplied. In the next chapter, Genesis 22: 2, God tells Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
Obedience over Love
Abraham was about to sacrifice the boy. He chose obedience over love for the child and in a split-second God showed him an animal that he should use as the sacrifice.
Sisters in Christ, the God we serve is a way maker; life is difficult, I am sure Louisa was traumatized and asked God why. Yet, she did not stay in that place of suffering, she continued to love God and went on many missionary journeys with and for him.
Great God, please give us the courage to always trust your sovereign hands.
Hawn, C.M. (September 2014). History of Hymns, Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-tis-so-sweet-to-trust-in-jesus
Michelle Anderson is author of the books “The Holy Spirit Gives Life” and “Giants in the Shadows”. She is also the creator of the podcast, “From the Pages of My Diary”.