‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Text by: Louisa M Stead 1882

Tune:  by William J Kirkpatrick

Source: Broadman 1940 Hymnal #284

Here is my recording of ‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus:

https://youtu.be/50oWVAq_Fxk

1 ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, Thus says the Lord!

Refrain

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!

2 O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

3 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.

Refrain

4 I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

“Mommy, Mommy, let’s go!!” Lili was so anxious to go to the beach for a picnic with her father and me. She is only four and gets so excited whenever her father is home during the day she can hardly contain herself. The sun is out and it is a most beautiful and glorious day. It is indeed a wonderful day for a picnic and I praise God for the sun, my wonderful husband, and my precious daughter. I feel well today, even though it had been a hard winter and some days I could barely drag myself out of bed to attend to my duties, I am thankful for today.

 

We arrived at the beach and set up our picnic under the shade of a maple tree. After thanking the Lord for his bounty, we started to eat and enjoy the sun and each other’s company. No sooner than I had taken my first bite of lunch than we heard frantic screams from the water. We looked out and saw a boy caught in the tow, struggling to get to shore. My dear husband, without a moment’s hesitation, put his sandwich down and ran to the water. He dove and swam out to the panicked boy. My husband tried vainly to try to calm the boy down but as soon as he was close the boy grabbed him and pulled him under the water.

 

In a moment our day of joy turned to a day of agony. My dear husband, along with this poor boy drowned that day.

 

Lili was inconsolable. She cried for days. What child should see her father die? How can she understand what happened?

 

We have no money. I have been sick most of my life and have no means of supporting Lili and myself.

 

Yesterday, someone baked us a Shepherd’s Pie! It is enough to last Lili and me three days! The Lord is so good and gracious.

 

Since I was a child I have yearned to serve our Lord in the mission field. In His mercy, he has provided such an opportunity. Lili and I leave for Cape Colony, South Africa next week!

 

Luisa Stead worked as a missionary for another 15 years. She met and married Robert Wodehouse, a native of South Africa. Because of her poor health the couple returned to the US and Mr. Wodehouse served a Methodist church. In 1900 they returned to Umtali which was in Southern Rhodesia which is now Zimbabwe.

Luisa Stead passed away in 1917 in her home near the Mutambara Mission, about 50 miles from Umtali. Her daughter, Lili continued to work in the mission field in southern Africa.

‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus was written shortly after her first husband’s death and reflects her strong trust that despite all of her hardships, Jesus was ever faithful.