Hymn-ful Sundays! "Trust and Obey"

John Sammis was a minister and hymnwriter at the turn of the 20th century. The term "trust and obey" was used in the testimony of a young man at an evangelistic meeting hosted by Dwight L Moody. Daniel Towner, inspired by those words, gave them to John Sammis, who developed the lyrics for this hymn. Towner then composed the music.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

John Sammis

This song is a simple reminder of what we are called to do as followers of Christ: to trust, and to obey. And as Sammis writes, there's no other way that we will be happy in Jesus. No matter what life throws at us, we are confident in this, that God can be trusted, and that our obedience to Him does not go unnoticed or unrewarded.

Be blessed and shine, trusting and obeying!

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