A story of the hymn,“’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by William Petersen

Louisa Stead and her husband were relaxing with their four-year-old daughter on a Long Island beach when they heard a child’s desperate cry. A boy was drowning, and Louisa’s husband tried to rescue him. In the process, however, the boy pulled Mr. Stead under the water, and both drowned as Louisa and her daughter watched.

Louisa Stead was left with no means of support. She and her daughter experienced dire poverty. One morning, when she had neither funds nor food for the day, she opened the front door and found that someone had left food and money on her doorstep. That day she wrote this hymn.

Sometimes we mouth platitudes about our Christianity—glibly quoting Scripture and singing songs about trusting Jesus. For Stead, there was nothing glib or superficial about it. Her hymn remains a timeless reminder and comfort to all believers who have experienced this same truth: “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! / How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! / Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! / O for grace to trust Him more!”

Scriptures: Psalm 91:4; John 14:1-3; Ephesians 1:3-5
Themes: Trust, Confidence, Commitment

Lyrics of the Hymn:
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word,
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just 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!
O for grace to trust Him more!

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 Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that He is with me,
Will be with me to the end.
By LOUISA M. R. STEAD (1850–1917)

Reference for the Hymn:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 113-114). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.