Our Guide

1) Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,

While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.

Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;

Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last. 

2) Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;

Leave, ah! Leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.

All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;

Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

3) Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in the Thee I find;

Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.

Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;

False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

4)Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;

Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.

Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;

Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

Do you ever wonder what inspires a hymn?  Like, does a hymn writer just sit down and say, "I'm going to write a sweet poem honoring God and someone else is going to put some great music to it!"  That's probably not the usual thought process.  Today we have a song written by the great hymnist Charles Wesley.  He's John Wesley's hymn writing brother.  Wesley wrote plenty of hymns, and this will not be the only one I listen to this year (Note: I should keep a tally).  He was especially motivated to write "Jesus, Lover of My Soul."  The story goes that Wesley was preaching in Ireland when some local folks disagreed with Wesley's theology (We've all been there, unless you're Methodist, then of course you agree).  However, unlike most of the rest of us, these Irishmen decided that their theological differences should be hammered out with their fists.  Wesley was a little apprehensive about facing a mob, so he hid in a farmer's milkhouse.  While waiting, he penned this hymn, praying to God for refuge. Go here for the fuller story. It's worth a read.

I'm providing two links to listen to this hymn.  The first is the traditional by Joseph Parry. Parry is a Welsh musician and a Freemason to boot.  He played the organ at the masonic lodge in Aberystwyth.  The tune was first published in Edward Stephen's Ail Lyfr Tonau ac Emynau or, if you lack command of the Welsh language, "The Second Book of Tunes and Hymns" (1879).  I think it does a good job of capturing the underlying fear when we pray to God for protection.  The second is by the band Indelible Grace.  This band has the stated goal of taking classic hymns and updating the music to something a bit more contemporary.  This tune is one of my favorites that they do.  Some hymns sound better in the original harmonies. Other hymns desperately need updating. I feel "Jesus, lover of my Soul" rests comfortably in either situation.

Now I have never felt threatened by a mob nor have I ever been in a fight where my life has been in any real danger, but there are plenty of times where I needed refuge from the world.  I need the "Grace to cover all my sin."  There have been numerous nights, and I'm sure I'll come across more, when I feel the weight of all my sin and cannot find in comfort shutting my eyes to the world.  Fortunately, Jesus is a Savior that does not let us go. When doubts and fears and anxieties slither their way into my mind and heart, I'm glad there are hymns that remind me that "Christ art all I want, more than all in Thee I find."  Jesus is greater than my fears as He is greater than an angry mob looking to correct a preacher (Fun fact #1: I think I have a new life goal).  Christ is the Great Comforter and He will protect His sheep.  Yes, Christians are slandered, beaten, and some are even martyred for the Gospel, but nothing the world does can ever separate us from God's love.