O love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
may richer, fuller be.
O light that foll’west all my way,
i yield my flick’ring torch to thee;
my heart restores its borrowed ray,
that in thy sunshine’s glow its day
may brighter, fairer be.
o joy that seekest me through pain,
i cannot close my heart to thee;
i trace the rainbow through the rain,
and know the promise is not vain
that morn shall tearless be.
o Cross that lifteth up my head,
i dare not ask to hide from thee;
i lay in dust life’s glory dead,
and from the ground there blossoms red
life that shall endless be.
*George matheson, 1842-1906
*George Matheson was an esteemed Scottish minister who was totally blind. The following are his words in regards to this beautiful hymn:
” My hymn was composed in the manse of Innelan on the evening of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out of myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high.”
When we sing this hymn in church it never fails to stir my spirit. The reason is clear: it is not a “manufactured article”, but a “dayspring from on high”. May our sufferings also bear such fruit; sincere, genuine, and godly fruit that glorifies God alone.
Good to be Home 
Thank you for sharing how the hymn was composed, now when we sing it in church it will have an even deeper meaning. Have a blessed Lords day~Michelle
Thank you. I have always loved this hymn.
I can’t read or sing this hymn without crying. Mrs. M. asked me to sing it for her husband’s funeral, which was just a couple weeks after I had buried my mother. My own secret suffering around that event, coupled with the shared sorrow with this godly widow, allow me to never forget the meaning and message of these vivid lines.
This is exactly what our message was about this morning, right Shan? Out of our sufferings should come rejoicing and godly spiritual fruit. It makes toddler problems and pregnancy issues seem inconsequential when we try to look ahead at the end result… that God is glorified in all.
Cathi, I really am amazed once again at how God works, because I wrote this blog Sunday morning BEFORE church, and then sure enough— the service went right along w/these same thoughts! How often do we see that happen on Sunday. . . . . .everything seems to fit together and unites—songs, prayers, sermon, etc.
i just love all your pictures below!!!