Lenten Devotion: Wednesday, April 4

by Darlene K. Harmon

Jesus, Lover of My Soul
United Methodist Hymnal #479
Words: Charles Wesley, 1740 (Wis. 11:26)
Music: Joseph Parry, 1879

1
Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.
2
Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.
3
Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
more than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am;
thou art full of truth and grace.
4
Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound,
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart;
rise to all eternity.

Throughout the season of Lent there is much to be learned about the courage it takes to trust in God. As we study the last days in the life of Jesus, we can begin to recognize the courage that he exhibited in his trust in God. His greatest teachings were best represented in the way he lived his life. He taught us much by the example of his own relationship with God. In his hours of despair in Gethsemane, he prayed, “…all things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want.” (Mark 14:36 TEV) He surrendered himself to God and prayed to accept God’s will for his life. Yet, our Lord felt despair again and prayed as he hung on the cross, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” (Matthew 27:46 TEV) Again he showed his courage by trusting in God at the end of his earthly life with these words: “Father! In your hands I place my spirit.” Yes, the human side of Jesus surrendered to God, then doubted, then surrendered again. Is this so much different for us today as we face the difficulties and great sorrows that our lives hold?

In the days ahead, we are all called to examine our relationship with God as set by the example of Jesus. We, too, are called to have the courage to put our trust in God. When we clutch our problems, live with fear and rely on our human understanding, we close ourselves off from God, our source of help beyond our understanding. It takes courage to trust that God is indeed with us. We must humble ourselves before Him, as Jesus did, and be willing to accept God’s will for our lives. We must have the courage to trust that God’s ever abiding presence is with each of us as our lives unfold. Let God be God—He is all wise and all powerful. Let us remember the words of Christ as he appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 28:9 TEV)

In his hymn, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” Charles Wesley so well depicts our need for courage to trust in God and our need to surrender to His care:

Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

Yes, let us all have the courage to trust that we are in God’s care and will not falter under the “shadow of His wing.”