Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 21

(1) My Faith Looks Up to Thee

-In a Time of Illness and Loneliness

Ray Palmer (1808-87) experienced hardship early in life, having to leave school at the age of thirteen to work in a dry-goods store in Boston. He soon came to faith in Christ. His faith led him to complete school, graduate from Yale, and go on to the ministry.

Following his studies, he was overcome with illness and loneliness. At the age of twenty-one, in the midst of despair, he sought comfort by writing a poem. His composition came as a spontaneous expression of a deeper inner experience of the presence of Christ and a realization of what Christ meant to him and to the world.

Palmer had no idea that his words would be used as a hymn. But the poem was brought to the attention of Lowell Mason, one of America’s great hymn-tune composers. He wedded the words to the now familiar tune Olivet, sending Palmer’s poem around the world to become one of Christendom’s greatest hymns. The hymn is a prayer of faith. It acknowledges Christ as our Saviour and source of grace and inspiration.

It petitions the Lord’s cleansing, strengthening, guidance and comfort. The words also voice our prayer for a pure and changeless love, and to be kept faithful.

 

My faith looks up to thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

Saviour divine;

Now hear me while I pray,

Take all my guilt away,

O let me from this day be wholly thine!

 

May thy rich grace impart

Strength to my fainting heart,

My zeal inspire;

As thou hast died for me,

O may my love to thee

Pure, warm and changeless be, a living fire!

 

While life’s dark maze I tread,

And griefs around me spread,

Be thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn to day,

Wipe sorrow’s tears away,

Nor ever let me stray from thee aside.

 

We have all embarked on a pilgrimage that will bring unknown testings, and perhaps trials. Let us reaffirm our faith in Christ and lean on His grace and guidance.

 

(2) He Giveth More Grace

– Added Grace in Added Affliction

Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932) has written some of the most inspiring poems dealing with faith and triumph in times of trial and suffering. It seemed that a personal experience of suffering or trial must be behind such writings. Research has confirmed this supposition.

Born in Vineland, New Jersey, Annie Johnson lost both parents before she was six years of age. A childless couple named adopted her.  While still in her teens, she became afflicted with arthritis and soon was unable to walk.

Annie aspired to be a composer and concert pianist, but when illness deprived her of her ability to play the piano, she resorted to writing poetry. She set several of her poems to music. Later, being unable to open her hands, she wrote many of her poems on the typewriter, using but her knuckles.

Out of Annie’s deep affliction, came one of the songs that has blessed an innumerable company in times of suffering or trial – “He Giveth More Grace.”

 The author based her words on three Bible promises in the Authorized Version: “He giveth more grace” (James 4:6); “He increaseth strength” (Isaiah 40:29); and “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied” (Jude 2).

 

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labours increase,

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

 

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

 

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power has no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth and giveth again.

 

There is a grace and strength from God that is not given in the everyday routine of life. But God gives it to us in our hour of need when our trust is in Him. When troubles and trials come upon us, may we know His added grace, his increased strength, and His multiplied peace.

(Extracted and edited from Henry Gariepy’s Song’s in the Night.)

May God bless these two hymns to all readers who may be going through suffering and enduring trial. Amen.

  

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee