Convicting Hymns
"But we never can prove
the delight of His love
Until all at the altar we lay" (emphasis mine)
This is part of one of the verses of the well-known hymn Trust and Obey. I sang this hymn often enough as a child to have a comfortable familiarity with it (even played it on the piano!); but, as with many hymns, if it's not part of the first verse, I don't remember it nearly as well. These words particularly struck me as I listened to them in the car yesterday (on Hymns for a Kid's Heart Vol. 2, which is one of the things we got for Rebecca for Christmas).
Most of you reading this know that I have been wrestling with God for a long time regarding my chronic illnesses. I thought I was trusting and obeying...why wasn't I happy in Jesus (like the chorus says)? These words from verse 4 made me realize (not necessarily for the first time, but at least they renewed my attention to the fact) that much of my frustration has been coming from holding onto some things more tightly than I hold onto Him. Things like health, comfort, being able to sleep when I need to sleep, having normal blood sugars, feeling energetic (or at least not dragging), feeling useful, having lots of friends, being healthy enough to have more children, wanting to be good (or faster) at things that I am not good (or faster) at, wanting God to reveal a reason for everything that He does in my life (or other people's lives, for that matter) that's not what I would have done if it were up to me. I idolize these things in my heart, instead of being willing to accept whatever my God ordains is right...which leads me to this next convicting hymn, by Samuel Rodigast, in 1675:
Whate'er my God ordains is right: his holy will abideth;
I will be still whatever he doth, and follow where he guideth
He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall, wherefore to Him I leave it all.
Whate'er my God ordains is right: he never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path; I know He will not leave me
I take content what He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away, and patiently I wait His day.
Whate'er my God ordains is right: though now this cup in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart, and pain and sorrow shall depart.
Whate'er my God ordains is right: here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death by mine, yet I am not forsaken.
My Father's care is round me there
He holds me that I shall not fall: and so to Him I leave it all.
I hesitantly to ask you to pray with me that God makes this my attitude, because I know it is a painful, ongoing process to have one's heart corrected...and I don't like pain!
the delight of His love
Until all at the altar we lay" (emphasis mine)
This is part of one of the verses of the well-known hymn Trust and Obey. I sang this hymn often enough as a child to have a comfortable familiarity with it (even played it on the piano!); but, as with many hymns, if it's not part of the first verse, I don't remember it nearly as well. These words particularly struck me as I listened to them in the car yesterday (on Hymns for a Kid's Heart Vol. 2, which is one of the things we got for Rebecca for Christmas).
Most of you reading this know that I have been wrestling with God for a long time regarding my chronic illnesses. I thought I was trusting and obeying...why wasn't I happy in Jesus (like the chorus says)? These words from verse 4 made me realize (not necessarily for the first time, but at least they renewed my attention to the fact) that much of my frustration has been coming from holding onto some things more tightly than I hold onto Him. Things like health, comfort, being able to sleep when I need to sleep, having normal blood sugars, feeling energetic (or at least not dragging), feeling useful, having lots of friends, being healthy enough to have more children, wanting to be good (or faster) at things that I am not good (or faster) at, wanting God to reveal a reason for everything that He does in my life (or other people's lives, for that matter) that's not what I would have done if it were up to me. I idolize these things in my heart, instead of being willing to accept whatever my God ordains is right...which leads me to this next convicting hymn, by Samuel Rodigast, in 1675:
Whate'er my God ordains is right: his holy will abideth;
I will be still whatever he doth, and follow where he guideth
He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall, wherefore to Him I leave it all.
Whate'er my God ordains is right: he never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path; I know He will not leave me
I take content what He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away, and patiently I wait His day.
Whate'er my God ordains is right: though now this cup in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart, and pain and sorrow shall depart.
Whate'er my God ordains is right: here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death by mine, yet I am not forsaken.
My Father's care is round me there
He holds me that I shall not fall: and so to Him I leave it all.
I hesitantly to ask you to pray with me that God makes this my attitude, because I know it is a painful, ongoing process to have one's heart corrected...and I don't like pain!
Labels: Christianity, conviction, health, hymns
posted by Elisabeth | 12:57 AM
2 Comments:
I love you! You're not alone in burning up these idols. Let's take them to the bonfire together!
Heather
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and that beautiful hymn! We just had a sermon last week on idols, but you added some especially painful, personal and important ones to the list. I love you!!!
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