It was a beautiful sunny day when Louisa M. Stead, her husband, and daughter Lily, decided to go for a picnic. While picnicking on the Long Island Sound they heard a scream out in the water where a young boy was franticly struggling. Instinctively Mr. Stead ran to the rescue. Louisa Stead and young Lily watched helplessly as Mr. Stead and the boy both drowned. Because of this great tragedy, Mrs. Stead and Lilly were left poor, destitute and heartbroken. Despite all their troubles God was always faithful to provide a way for Louisa and her daughter to make it through. During this great trial and testing Louisa would learn to trust God. She would testify of God’s faithfulness in the song she wrote: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.’
Sometime later after the drowning, Louisa and her daughter moved to South Africa where they served the Lord faithfully as missionaries.
The beloved hymn born out of tragedy ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus’ (First published in 1882) has resulted in bringing comfort to many souls, for close to 130 years now.
Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
Refrain:
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!
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, ‘Thus says the Lord!’
Refrain
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Refrain
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.
Refrain
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.