A Story on the Hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” by William Petersen

Thomas Chisholm certainly had his share of disappointments in life. Born in a crude log cabin in Kentucky, he never had a chance to attend high school or college. His health was fragile, forcing him to resign as a Methodist minister after only one year. He began writing, but received more than his share of rejection letters. Even when his poems were published, he seldom received any money for them.

At the age of fifty-seven, he wrote the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” based on the verses in Lamentations that say, “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (3:22-23, KJV). Later, when he was asked how he came to write the hymn, he said there were no special circumstances surrounding it, but he simply wrote about God’s faithfulness from studying the Bible.

Scriptures: Psalm 36:5-7; Lamentations 3:22-25; James 1:17
Themes: Faithfulness, God’s Mercy, Assurance

Lyrics of the Hymn:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! [Chorus]

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

By THOMAS OBEDIAH CHISHOLM (1866–1960) Copyright © 1923. Renewal 1951 by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (p. 393). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.