Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 26
‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus – From a Husband’s Tragic Drowning
Louisa Stead (1850-1917), her husband, and their four-year-old daughter Lily went to enjoy a sunny day on the beach on Long Island Sound.
While they were having their picnic lunch, they suddenly heard cries of help and spotted a drowning boy in the sea.
Mr. Stead rushed to rescue the boy but, as often happens, the struggling and terrified child pulled his rescue under the water with him. Both drowned as his horrified wife and daughter watched helplessly.
Louisa Stead struggled with the question of why her husband, who with her was committed to serving Christ, should lose his life in such a tragedy, leaving her and her daughter bereft and all the promise of his life lost.
She surrendered her doubts and despair and, in that dark hour of her life, composed the words that have been a comfort to many in times of stress and loss.
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.”
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, How I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’ver and o’ver!
Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!
Yes, ‘tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease,
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest and joy and peace.
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
In the tragic drowning of her husband, a young wife and mother affirmed through her tears that there is comfort and grace in Christ.
Soon after the tragedy, Louisa Stead went with her daughter to serve faithfully for twenty-five years as a missionary in South Africa and Southern Rhodesia.
Louisa’s missionary comrades in Southern Rhodesia wrote the following tribute after her death: “Her influence goes on as our five thousand native Christians continually sing her hymn in their native language”.
We too may be called upon to enter the bleak deserts of barrenness or the dark canyons of anguish.
In such times, we can also know the peace that comes through trust in the Saviour and go on to fruitful service for Him. Trust will bring triumph.
May we in our sunlit days, as well as in our darkest hours, know the sweetness, the serenity, and the strength that comes when we trust in Jesus.
[Extracted and edited from Henry Gariepy’s Song’s in the Night]
Webcast and Audio Ministry Update
A letter of encouragement was received from Brian of Massachusetts, America in the night of the Lord’s Day of 4 June.
He had tuned into our repeat webcast of the Lord’s Day Service on the message “Opposition to the Gospel” (Acts 19:12-41).
“Blessings to you from Massachusetts, America.
Fellow brothers and sisters, I am being equipped for the work of the ministry listening to God, the Living Word speaking through you on the Lord’s Day Service today.
I love you all for your faithfulness to our Lord Saviour and God in Jesus Christ.
Bless you all. Love, Brian”
Total MP3 audio and video downloads in May 2017 were 1,239 and 60 respectively.
There were 862 webcast listeners in May 2017 covering 42 countries and 32 states of the USA from Sermon Audio.
BHBPC video sermons have also been uploaded on Youtube and Facebook respectively under the name “Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church”.
Viewers can tune into the live stream via the “Live” tab of BHBPC website www.blessedhope.sg, BHBPC Facebook page and the Church Mobile App.
at www.sermonaudio/blessedhope.
May the Spirit of God bless His Word to the conversion of souls and strengthening of the faith of the saints for His glory. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee