I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."
Our culture despises weakness. Politicians exude strength to get votes. Organizational leaders are coached to appear confident and strong for the sake of their mission. And at the nuclear family level, many of us have judged that mom who folds to the power of her child’s public temper tantrum. It can be embarrassing to look weak in front of others. Yet, dear Christian, what a freedom to admit the truth of our weakness!
The first stanza of the hymn Jesus Paid It All (also known as I Hear the Saviour Say) has been ringing in my mind lately. It tells the truth about me: I am a child of weakness and my strength proves small more often than I care to admit. Here’s one example: I almost sabotaged three relationships in the last few weeks because of my pride and struggle to forgive. I would love to look like a strong Christian at every turn I take, but I am a clumsy woman and my turns come with stumbles and falls. Praise the Savior who speaks, not to condemn but to call us to Himself. And praise Him for this encouraging hymn, written at a common occasion.
Jesus Paid It All was penned in 1865 by a very ordinary woman. Her name was Elvina M. Hall and she attended a church in Baltimore, Maryland. Mrs. Hall sat in the choir stand one Sunday, listening to the prayers of her pastor. The Rev. George W. Schrick extolled the beauty and sufficiency of Christ’s sacrificial death for sinners. He reminded his congregation, through his prayer, that Jesus paid it all. Overcome by the reminder of this truth, Mrs. Hall opened the flyleaf of her hymnbook and began to write. The words of this hymn were birthed in the pew of a church filled with ordinary Christians who looked to a strong God. Friends, Christians are free to admit our weakness because our salvation doesn’t rest in our strength—but in Christ. Jesus paid it all!
Our Savior has been perfect on our behalf— perfect in obedience, spotless in righteousness, strong in every way we prove weak. Praise the Savior who calls us to Himself in our weakness. He tells us to watch and pray and to find in Him our all in all. His Spirit strengthens us in our weakness. God‘s Word counsels us in our weakness. And prayer encourages us in our weakness. Brothers and sisters, there’s grace for us in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). One day we will stand before God completely conformed to the beautiful image of Christ. Until then, child of weakness watch and pray—and find in Christ your all in all.
And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
My lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.