The Love that won't let go
A hymn that has long been one of myfavorites is the nineteenth century work, “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go.”
The story behind it makes it even moremeaningful.
The author, George Matheson, had been partiallyblind since birth when at eighteen his vision failed rapidly, and he becametotally blind. Still, a brilliant seminary student, he became a pastor of a large church in Edinburgh,Scotland. In June of 1882, he suffered adevastating heartache which cannot be verified, but some think it the rejectionfrom a fiancé. He wrote this hymn which came from that time. In his words, “Iwas the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression ratherof having it dictated to me by some inward voice than of working it out myself.I am quite sure that the whole work was complete in five minutes . All the other verses I have ever written aremanufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high. I have neverbeen able to gain once more the same fervor in verse.”
Matheson went on to pastor the same churchfor thirty-three years and write fine devotional literature, but he is bestremembered for this hymn which came from one of the most challenging times inhis life.
I have recently read a line in Streams inthe Desert which said, “No calamity will ever bring only evil to us, if we willimmediately take it in fervent prayer to God.”
This is what Matheson did. I find itinteresting that if the story is true of Matheson’s rejection in love, he turned to the Love in which He would never sufferrejection.
“OLove that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee;
Igive thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depts its flow may richer,fuller be.
“OJoy that sleekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee;
Itrace the rainbow thru the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that mornshall tearless be.”
When we go throughrejection, loss, or fearful times, what a comfort to remember there is a Lovethat will never let us go—a Love in which we may rest, find new life, and hope.
The last verse ofthis hymn reminds us of the great work God has done for us through Jesus andwhat we find in surrendering to Him:
“OCross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee;
Ilay in dust life’s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red life thatshall endless be.”
I am reminded of words the prophetJeremiah wrote, “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying, ‘I have loved youwith an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness’” (Jeremiah31:3).
That everlasting Love has gone before us,is with us now, and will be with us all the days of our lives. What a blessingto know it will never, never let us go.
Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
