By
August Ludvig Storm - 1862-1914I love the melody:
The melody:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hRly7OaSJs
August Ludvig Storm wrote this
hymn in 1891. He was a twenty-nine years old Swede, who had been
led to saving faith during a Salvation Army meeting in
Stockholm. In grateful appreciation, he joined the ministry and
became a preacher and teacher.
This hymn is based on a list
he wrote with 24 reasons for thanksgiving -- sources of tears as
well as smiles. It expressed his praise to God in the midst of
pain as well as pleasure -- in difficulties as well as delights.
I tend to believe that the pain and difficulties of his life did
more to build strength and gratefulness in His heart than did
any of his human pleasure.
Eight years after writing this
hymn, August Storm faced a crippling back problem. But God used
his disability to prove His sufficiency -- and to give
additional depth to the young man's teaching and writing.
Like the apostle Paul, this
faithful servant probably cried out to His beloved Master for
relief. And God would have answered through His Word: “My
grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness” -- to which his heart would have responded
with the gratefulness of Paul:
“Therefore
most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure
in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am
strong." 2
Corinthian 12:7-10
Storm's high calling to
continual suffering made his life all the more a testimony to
God's sufficiency. He knew the source of endurance and gave God
the glory.
See also
Thanksgiving - Our
response to God's Goodness
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