LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS

It is difficult to choose my very favorite hymn, but "Like A River Glorious" certainly ranks as one of my top favorites.  I especially love to hear it sung by a congregation or an ensemble without any instruments.  It does have great harmony, but more importantly, the words always speak to my heart.  In a world filled with turmoil, our only hope is to live lives that are stayed upon Jehovah.  Now, I admit that I struggle with the words of the second verse ... not a surge of worry ... for I am a worrier.  But when we really understand that "EVERY joy or trial falleth from above" and that they are "traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love", then we know that we can trust him fully.  And we do find perfect peace and rest.  When Frances Havergal was vacationing in the south of Wales, 1876, she caught a severe cold, accompanied by inflammation of the lungs. Hearing how ill she was, and that she might die, she replied, "If I am really going, it is too good to be true." Her friends were amazed at how peacefully she received this information. She did survive that illness, and later that year she wrote this beautiful hymn.  Meditate on these powerful words as you sing along.

(1)   Like a river glorious, is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

(2)   Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.    Refrain

(3)   Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;

We may trust Him fully all for us to do.

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Refrain

Listen to it here.     LISTEN