Scripture Verse

O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You. Psalm 84:11–12

Introduction

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John H. Sammis
1846–1919

Words: John H. Sam­mis, in Hymns New and Old, ed­i­ted by Da­ni­el Tow­ner (New York & Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Flem­ing H. Re­vell, 1887), num­ber 59.

Music: Da­ni­el B. Tow­ner (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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Daniel B. Towner (1850–1919)

Origin of the Hymn

[In 1886] Mr. [Dwight] Moo­dy was con­duct­ing a ser­ies of meet­ings in Brock­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts, and I had the plea­sure of sing­ing for him there.

One night a young man rose in a tes­ti­mo­ny and said, I am not quite sure…but I am go­ing to trust, and I am going to obey. I just jot­ted that sen­tence down, and sent it with the lit­tle story to the Rev. J. H. Sam­mis, a Pres­by­ter­ian min­is­ter. He wrote the hymn, and the tune was born.

Daniel Towner

Lyrics

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glo­ry He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Je­sus,
But to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a bur­den we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we ne­ver can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
For the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain