Great Is Thy Faithfulness
History
It often seems like the history and legends behind certain hymns and their authors contribute to the longevity of the hymn just as much as any lyric or melody. It's in our human nature to love stories and it's easy for us to feel connected to a work when we see a thrilling backstory to a favorite song.
There's a certain irony in the fact that one of the greatest testaments to God's faithfulness that has continued to bless the church for nearly a century is almost entirely unremarkable in its composition or story.
This beloved song began its life as a poem written by Thomas Obadiah Chisholm in 1923. At the age of 57 he wrote this hymn as a reflection of God's faithfulness throughout his life. Following his authorship of this poem, Chisholm sent it off to Christian composer William Runyan who went to work setting the poem to music. The song was completed that same year, and published by Hope Publishing Company.
Chisholm was the author of over 1,200 poems during his lifetime. Toward the end of his life, he retired to New Jersey and died peacefully in 1960, having served in both the pastorate and in secular careers, as well as an editor for a Christian magazine in Louisville.
Devotion
The irony in this hymn's lack of dramatic story is that the testimony isn't necessarily a testament to God's faithful pursuit, deliverance, or life-altering miracle. At least, not on the surface. But as humans, we just really love a good story. It's easy to find stories, blogs, and devotionals based on the profound tragedies and sufferings of others. Walk into any Christian book store, and I would wager that you will find at least as many examples of books on how to survive difficult situations in your life as you will Bibles.
Finding hope and encouragement in these kinds of stories is not a bad thing, necessarily. After all, the gospel message is one of profound hope and deliverance. Salvation is a miracle story worth telling.
Sometimes God's faithfulness is presented in faithfully preserving someone from a life of turbulence and pain. Sometimes God is faithful in providence just as much as He is faithful in the rescuing. We must not be tempted to think that one story or another is more or less a testament of His faithfulness.
It might be easy to look at a lifetime of hurt and pain and wonder where God was during that, and why He couldn't present His faithfulness sooner. On the other hand, it might be easy to look at a lifetime of simple, graceful faith and wonder if you'd never been rescued from dramatic circumstances, how can you know that you've been rescued?
God has engineered billions of stories that all ultimately reflect His glory, and every one of them is unique. Every story is a testament to God's faithful pursuit.
Sometimes the rescuing is in prevention, and sometimes the rescuing is in recovery. In either case, when a soul is rescued from the depths of Hell, we can rejoice in the faithfulness of a God who pardons sin by the blood of His own son.
What is your story?
Related Scripture
Psalm 16:9-11; Lamentations 3:22-26
Great is thy faithfulness 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 wilt be.
Refrain
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!
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,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.