“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” -Psalm 23:3
The great hymn, God of Grace and God of Glory, was written by Harry Emmerson Fosdick in 1930. The hymn was written for the opening of the historic Riverside Church in New York City. Fosdick had been a chaplain during World War I. During his service to our country, Fosdick would witness many terrible tragedies brought on by war. He was then called to serve the church, where he would establish a ministry that reached people of all backgrounds.
Although Riverside Church would grow to be one of the most successful ministries of the early 1900s, it faced many challenges. It was opened during the Great Depression. As the country was recovering from WWI, the world entered into one of the most severe economic depressions in history. The United States was facing record unemployment and poverty. This is reflected in the line, “Fear and doubts to long have bound us, free our hearts to faith and praise.” Although God’s people were facing difficult times, they could find security and peace in the knowledge that God would lead them through their challenges.
History and the present are filled with challenging moments. We must remember that our struggles are not as big as the God who leads us. This is why the same verse ends with the prayer, “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days.” Our emotions and anxieties can cause us great worry. We often let our momentary struggles and disappointments distract us from the fact that God is at work leading us towards a life of blessings and peace.
We can change our perspective by focusing on God instead of our present trials. Spending time in prayer and study allows us to see that God is at work in our world. As the Apostle Paul writes, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). We spend too much of our energy on our “fear and doubts.” Let us look to God and pray, “Free our hearts to faith and praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days.”
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
