Be still, my heart! these anxious cares

This hymn was written by John Newton who wrote Amazing Grace. This song is much deeper than just experiencing grace in our salvation. This is a hymn of experience and walking with the Lord along thorny paths where our anxiety is manifested. It is good to see others have experienced the same anxieties. It is even better to see they are calmed by trusting the Lord. I experience the Lord, responding to my anxious prayers. This song just strikes a cord with me with all the trials I’ve been through. We are human and don’t always trust the Lord as we should. Even then, He always comes through.

A lovely reminder of a couplet from a hymn that my own mother would have used from John Newton. As I approach a a trouble in the new year, it is wonderful to have the assurance of the second line. Also guided to this from Spurgeon (29/12) and modern technology, for which we should also thank our God.

John Newton was born in London on July 24, 1725. His father was head of a ship that traveled over a route around the Mediterranean Sea for commercial purposes. By the time he was four, his mother had already had him learn portions of the Scripture and some hymns. He wrote: “My mother observed my early progress with peculiar pleasure, and intended from the first with a view to the ministry. ” But at 7 years old his mother died and his father and stepmother left him to hang around bad company.

When he was young he joined the Royal Navy but deserted at Plymouth. He was caught and whipped publicly, kept in chains and degraded in rank. He was ridiculed and insulted by other men. When he got to the African coast, he became the slave of a slave trader who, along with his wife, treated him cruelly. He suffered in this environment for about 15 months before he was rescued and taken aboard a ship sent by his father. He had become in his thoughts an infidel who had set aside his mother’s teachings but her prayers for him when he was a child had followed him throughout his wonderings.

While he was on the ship he read “Thomas A. Kempis” by Stanhope and a thought came to him, “What if these things should be true? ” Then a terrible storm came and a friend standing watch was swept overboard. The ship shook and it looked like it was going to break in pieces and it was then that he began to repent of all his sins. It was then that he saw Christ as the redeemer and Savior:

“ I now began to think of the Jesus Whom I so often offended. I recollected the particulars of his life and death..... I was struck with several passages, particularly the prodigal—a case that had never been so nearly exemplified as by myself— then the goodness of the Father in receiving, nay, in running to meet such a son, and this intended only to illustrate the Lord’s goodness to returning sinners, this gained upon me.

About the year 1742 he fell in love with a lady named Mary Catlet. Thoughts of her during his enslavement in Africa kept him alive. They were married February 1, 1750

After his marriage he made several voyages as Captain of a ship to Africa and the West Indies. No longer being able to be a sea captain by reason of an illness that doctors said he was unfit to go out to sea again, he became became a minister of the Church of England. He worked with William Cowper to produce the “Olney Hymns”. They became good friend and he helped Cowper during his bouts of depression.

The Lord took him home on December 31, 1807, and on his grave there are some words inscribed by Newton himself:

John Newton, Clerk.

Once an Infidel and Libertine, A servant of slaves in Africa,

Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior
JESUS CHRIST
Preserved, restored, pardoned,

And appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy.

Nearly 16 years at Olney in Bucks.

And —- years in this church.

What a precious assurance! My heart is so comforted and I have hope that My Lord is here in the mist of all my painful situations, trials, lost, sorrow, and all this human life of sorrows. The joy, peace, and assurance is my wonderful Savior.

He will always keep His promise! I'm so grateful for my Savior!

Spurgeon's quote of v. 5 is what led me to this. Had never heard the hymn before. Stormy trials, come what may - He is eternal and His strength will never fail. Maranatha - come Lord Jesus, come.

Truly assuring. It makes me strong even through trials and challenges. It reminds me I'm a little child in God's hands, totally protected.

Verse 5 cited in 12/29 Spurgeon a.m. Ü

heartlight.org/spurgeon/1229-am.html

Amen. Yes, this hymn is making us refreshed in our spirit. Hallelujah.

This hymn is a great reminder to hold on to the faithfulness of God when the situation around us seems contrary. Yes, He is there. Yes, He does hear...