I can still recall this hymn from my youth. It was most often the offertory hymn. Four men would gather at the back of the church when the song leader gave the cue. It went something like this. “For our offertory hymn, let’s stand as we sing the first, second, and last verses of…” That was all it took, and they would leave their seats as we all stood with hymnals in hands. I wonder if this wasn’t one of his favorite hymns. We seemed to sing it every other Sunday. The men would stand at the back and wait for the last verse then march down the aisle to stand before the pulpit. The song leader would nod at one of them to pray or the pastor would come to pray then they would begin to take the offering. I didn’t realize then that this was just as much a part of worship as the preaching and singing. Giving back to the Lord just a portion of what He had given to us.

Take a moment to read the verses to the hymn.

1 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.

2 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]

3 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]

4 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]

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

Hymnary.org

The hymn was written by John H. Sammis around 1887. He was a businessman who was born in New York. He eventually settled in Logansport, Indiana where he became a secretary for the local YMCA. He later became a Presbyterian minister. He is said to have penned more than 100 other songs.

The backstory for the hymn is uncertain as I have read at least two varying accounts. However, what is clear is that a gentleman stood up during a Dwight Moody revival in Brockton, Massachusetts and stated, “I am not quite sure – but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.” This statement was the catalyst for Sammis to pen the hymn.

Verse three is our primary focus. Sammis reminds us that “we never can prove the delights of his love…” What a beautiful thought.  We can never out test God’s love. God is steadfast in His love for us. He does not waver; He does not change. His greatest act of love is when he sent Jesus to the cross. In return, we lay everything on the altar. Give our all to Him.

Sammis points out it is in this giving everything on the altar, this trusting and obeying, that we experience His favor and the fullness of His joy. Indeed, we are encouraged to trust Jesus for our eternity, and we show our love for Him by our obedience.

There are examples of individuals experiencing the delights of God’s love, favor, and joy throughout the Bible. These experiences are accompanied by trust and obedience. I do not say that the path is easy. Many in the scriptures who chose to trust and obey had difficult journeys and troubled paths. Yet their joy was complete knowing they had accomplished what their God had sent them to do.

Psalm 84:12 encourages us, “LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” (NIV)

What is the Lord asking you to do? Are you hesitant to begin? Let me encourage you to take that first shaky step. Will you be like the gentleman I mentioned at the beginning from Dwight Moody’s service? I will trust. I will obey.

Trust and obey

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey

Angela