Have you ever been in the position where you know that people are taking advantage of you? Some may call it “being nice,” while others may consider you to be pretty gullible. I’m one of those folks who want to see the best in people – that is, until I am shown otherwise. I trust others to “do the right thing” and to do what they say that they are going to do. Merriam-Webster defines trust as the: “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; to be confident of or depend on.” Synonyms include: believe in; rely on; and hope or expect something to happen. While we may be disappointed in others from time to time, as the old hymn goes, “Tis’ So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.”
This hymn was written by Louisa M.R. Stead sometime between 1880-1882. It was inspired by a major turning point in her life. While vacationing at the beach with her parents at age 4, they heard cries for help and saw a drowning boy in the sea. Her father jumped in, but the struggling boy ended up pulling his rescuer underwater with him, and both drowned before his wife and daughter. From this tragedy, her faith grew to where she wrote these poignant words,
| 1 | ’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. |
| 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; Just in simple faith to plunge me, ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
How glad I am that I learned to trust in Jesus and His precious promises. We are all “simply blessed,” Courtney