Trust and Obey

SONG WRITER: John Sammis                    

MUSIC WRITER: Daniel Towner                     

WHEN WRITTEN: 1887

HYMN HISTORY: One night at a Dwight L. Moody evangelistic meeting in Brockton, Massachusetts, a young man stood up to testify about his confidence of salvation.  He said, "I am not quite sure," meaning that he wasn't really certain that God would save him from his sins –– and then he continued, "But I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey" –– meaning that he planned to trust God for his salvation and to do what he could to obey God's will.

"I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey."  Daniel Towner was the song leader for that meeting.  He was so impressed by the young man's testimony that he wrote down those words and stuck them in his pocket.  Later, he wrote a friend, John Sammis.  In his letter, he told about the young man's testimony and included the young man's words:  "I am not quite sure, but I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey."

Sammis quickly transformed those words into a hymn chorus:  "Trust and obey, For there's no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey." Soon he had five stanzas to go with the chorus, and he sent them to Towner, who composed the tune that we still sing today.

BIBLE VERSE:  Romans 16:26 – “But has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith.”

HYMN LYRICS:

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.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

to be happy in Jesus, but to 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 blest if we trust and obey.

(Refrain)

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.

              

(Refrain)

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.

(Refrain)