Louisa M.R. Stead was born in England in 1850. As a young girl, she wanted to be a missionary. At 21, she immigrated to America, living in Cincinnati, Ohio. While attending a camp meeting in Urbana, Ohio, her desire to be a missionary grew, and her ambitions to serve in China sadly were dashed because of her frail health.
In 1875, Louisa married George Stead and moved to New York City. One summer day in 1880, Louisa and her husband, George, took their daughter Lily to Long Island Sound for a picnic. While enjoying the day by the seashore, they heard cries for help from a young boy struggling against the tide offshore. Without hesitation, George plunged into the water to save him.
But as Louisa and Lily watched from the shore, both George and the boy drowned. In those darkest days following her loss, and when grief was the most profound, Louisa turned to the one constant in her life: Jesus Christ.
As Louisa poured out her heart through prayer and tears, a divine inspiration began to stir within her soul, and the refrain of this beloved hymn was born. Through the words of this hymn, Louisa expressed her complete reliance on God’s promises and found peace and solace as she trusted her Saviour to carry her through this trial, as He had throughout her life. William J. Kirkpatrick set the lyrics of ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus to music, and the hymn became a beacon of hope for Louisa and Lily as they navigated their grief together and many others down through time.
The impact of the hymn is evident by its popularity and ability to touch hearts within churches across cultural barriers. It remains an enduring testament of unshakable faith amid sorrow and adversity. It serves as a reminder that we are never alone when we place our trust in our loving Saviour, as every Christian believer should.
As you sing or listen to this cherished hymn today, may you find strength and solace in knowing that you have a Saviour who loves you deeply and will carry you through every storm life brings your way.
Sources: hymncharts.com/2023/05/29/the-story-behind-tis-so-sweet-to-trust-in-jesus; Wikipedia.org/wiki/%27Tis_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,
Just to know, “Thus says the Lord!”
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!
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, Saviour, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to 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!