BE ENCOURAGED (4) STORIES BEHIND THE HYMNS "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"

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 Lamentations 3:22 KJV

[22] It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.


The words of some hymns spring not from a traumatic occurrence in a writer's life but in the midst of the daily routine. That is just the case in the writing of one of the 20th century's most loved hymns: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." The words of many of our favorite hymns are born out of life-changing experiences.


Thomas Chisholm was born in a simple log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, in 1866. Lacking a high school education or any college training, he became a school teacher at the age of 16 and later entered the newspaper business.

The following years found him ordained a pastor, but poor health forced him to leave the ministry. After a time of recuperation, he moved to New Jersey to work as an insurance agent.

A prolific writer of poetry, he sent a collection of his poems in 1923 to his good friend William Runyan, a musician associated with Chicago's Moody Bible Institute, who also worked for a hymnal publishing company. While on a trip to Baldwin, Kansas, Runyan leafed through the poems sent by Chisholm and was immediately taken in by the depth of meaning and lyrical beauty of the words found in the poem "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."

Years later, Runyan recalled, "This particular poem held such an appeal that I prayed most earnestly that my tune might carry over its message in a worthy way."

Out of a simple prayer, Runyan's melody took shape, and the completed hymn was published by Runyan that same year. Due to Runyan's association with Moody Bible Institute, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" became a favorite with the students and faculty alike and has become the Institute's unofficial college hymn.

Yet, it was slow to catch on in churches across the United States until Billy Graham began to include the hymn in his crusades. It was introduced to the people of Great Britain during Graham's crusade there in 1954 and has since become one of England's most popular hymns. The hymn expresses the testimony of peace that comes through redemption, God's abiding presence in our daily lives, and the blessed hope of heaven. The refrain echoes the infinite faithfulness of God to extend mercy and compassion. 

Looking back on the writing of the hymn, Chisholm recalled in 1941, "My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness." Despite his challenge, he had things to be grateful for. What about you? As the year begins to gradually round up, fix your eyes on your blessings and not your losses and let the streams of God’s love, mercy and compassion flow to you. 

Shalom

Folake Olukoyede 


Lyrics 

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 will 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

Comments

  1. Anonymous24 November 2022 at 12:22

    Great is thy faithfulness Lord

    ReplyDelete
  2. HEMBE26 November 2022 at 07:17

    Yes LORD great is thy faithfulness indeed. Thank you JESUS. 🙏

    ReplyDelete

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