Treasures to rediscover

"Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take him at his Word;
Just to rest upon his promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust him more!

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

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, Savior, Friend;
And I know that thou art with me,
Will be with me to the end.

by Louisa M. R. Stead, 1882

A tragedy sweetened by trust

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus was written by Louisa M. R. Stead, after the tragic death of her husband in 1882.

Story

Songs

Infographic

Tis So Sweet
by Louisa M.R. Stead
Wallpaper

We have made a graphic so you can keep the hymn "Tis So Sweet" on your phone as your background or screensaver!

Short Content

The Story Behind The Hymn “Tis So Sweet”

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.

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.

by Bibles.net

history of Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Tragedy

Louisa M. R. Stead witnessed the death of her husband on a beach in Long Island, New York, as he tried to save a drowning boy.

Lyrics Written

Louisa M. R. Stead (1850-1917) wrote the poem "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus."

Music Composition

William Kirkpatrick composed music for Louisa’s lyrics and the hymn “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” was published later the same year.

Marriage

As a widow with one child, Louisa moved to South Africa as a missionary. She got married there.

Move

Poor health forced Louisa to move back to America.

Career

Louisa and her husband became missionaries to Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe) and remained there until her death in 1917.

Recording

The Larkin Sisters produced the first professional recording of the hymn.

Popularity

At the height of its popularity, “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” appeared in half of hymnals worldwide.

1875

1881

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1885

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Verse

ISAIAH 12:2 NIV

Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself,
is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.

Video: 4 Min

The Story Behind
the Hymn:
“Tis So Sweet"

by Right Now Media

Article: 7 Min

Where Did “Tis So Sweet” Come From and What Does It Say?

by C. Michael Hawn at Discipleship Ministries

Image

Our fathers
trusted
in You;
They trusted,
and You delivered them.

Psalm 22:4 NKJV

Quote

Few delights can equal
the mere presence of
one whom we
trust utterly.

George MacDonald

Article: 5 Min