The Legacy of a Famous Hymn
What is the story behind the hymn, “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”?
This song is a window for us into a deep relationship. Louisa M. R. Stead’s poem is about a person very dear to her. She had trusted him again in desperation, and he had not failed, because he never fails. He had brought food to her hungry destitute home and joy once again to her heart.
She had no husband; he had died before her eyes years earlier. And she had a little girl she struggled to provide for. But Louisa M. R. Stead knew a man she could call upon who had promised his love to her and given his word to provide for her. She had entrusted her soul to him—for he had died for her and given up his life to forgive her of her sins. And day by day she trusted him with everything else.
Time and again Louisa would lean on Jesus for her daily needs. Time and again he proved his love for her.
His name is Jesus, and she repeats his name over 20 times in her hymn. Like any person, Jesus’ trustworthiness can be proved. Time and again Louisa would lean on Jesus for her daily needs. Time and again he proved his love for her.
Life may be bitter and well soaked in tears, as it was for Louisa, but it can be sweetened by trusting in Jesus. First, we must trust him for our salvation, trusting his life, death, and resurrection are enough to bring us to God. But then we trust him for everything else, and he delights to prove himself faithful to us.