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!