scripture and prayer reflection
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Lyrics
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
And to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise
And 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
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
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
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 till the end
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
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust You
Ephesians 2:12-14, 17-22
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace...17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Romans 8:31-35, 37-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflection
This hymn was originally written by Louisa M. R. Stead, following the death of her husband, who died trying to save a drowning boy during a seaside picnic. The song is simple but profound in subject — more a meditation on the sufficiency of Christ rather than an instructive theological treatise.
If we pause to reflect, we can usually remember the ways that God has “proved” Himself and has carried us through past storms. Throughout scripture God calls His people to remember what He has done for them — to remind themselves, to teach their children, to make sure the stories are passed down and learned by coming generations (Deut 6:7; 11:19). In our own lives this may bring comfort and fortitude to help us endure and weather current circumstances. These key moments where God’s love and provision have been so evident are treasures that we can carry with us into whatever life holds ahead of us, and it is important to remember them and celebrate them.
In her allegory Hinds’ Feet on High Places Hannah Hurnard portrays a young woman journeying with the Shepherd (Jesus) through painful and frightening experiences. Along the way, the Shepherd instructs her to pick up small stones as memorials of what she has been through and what she has learned with Him. At a particularly dark moment in her journey, she briefly considers throwing the stones away, but cannot bring herself to let them go because of the precious memories attached to them. When at last she arrives at her journey’s end the Shepherd reveals that each memorial stone has become a precious jewel, which He uses to create a crown for her to wear. In a similar way, the experiences we have with God along our journey can become memorials of His goodness, faithfulness, and love, and something we will one day celebrate with Him.
And yet, though the singer tells of how their experience has “proved” Jesus’ care and sufficiency over and over, there is still the prayer for grace to trust Him yet more. This is a prayer echoed in our own hearts when in the midst of trials. Though we may have trusted God in the past and seen how He carried us through, there is still a present need to trust Him now. Trust is not a static one-time switch we flip and never have to attend to again. It is a daily rhythm.
Take some time to think through key moments in your life with God. Were these joyful moments? Grief-filled? Painful? Peaceful? Some mix of all of the above? What was it that you learned or experienced in these moments with God? What did He reveal to you about Himself? About you? Talk with Him about that. Close by asking for the grace to trust Him yet more in this current season.