He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden’s flowers bloom,
by waters calm, o’er troubled sea,
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done,
when, by Thy grace, the victory’s won,
e’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me, He leadeth me;
by His own hand He leadeth me:
His faithful follower I would be,
for by His hand He leadeth me.
Joseph H. Gilmore, 1862
Read: Deuteronomy 7:6-9
(Repine means to complain, to express discontent or dejection. I admit I can’t truthfully sing the third verse of this hymn. I am not always content with whatever lot I see. But the reading in Deuteronomy reminds me who this God is, this God who chooses, who loves, who delivers and who remains faithful. He is a God worthy of my trust and confidence, and worthy of my worship.)
Paula says
Amy,
Thanks so much for taking time to comment. It’s a great encouragement to me to know as I’m searching for a hymn or a topic, that God already has in mind how He’s going to use the words. It’s one of my favorite hymns and as I checked my list I was surprised that I hadn’t used it already. 🙂
Blessings!
Amy Willaford says
It seems like everytime I turn around either I, or my friends, are drowning in the struggles of this world. I was thinking thoughts of complaint in my heart as I sat down to my computer. The screen woke up and your blog was staring me in the face. I had opened it earlier in the morning knowing I didn’t have time to read it then, but could read it later. The words of this song touched a deep place in my heart. I forget sometimes that God’s hand is leading me. I’m not just stumbling around in these dark places. He is walking beside me, guiding my path. Thank you for posting this wonderful reminder. sometimes God reaches out in the gentlest of ways & reminds us He is still in control.