O Love, that wilt not let me go

B245 C332 D432 E432 F73 K332 P199 T432
1
O Love, that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
2
O Light, that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in Thy sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
3
O Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.
4
O Cross, that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

The author was inspired to write this hymn in 5 minutes during a time of distress.

55
Dayo Otolorin

Philadelphia, PA, United States

Thank You, Lord for being my Joy that seekest me through pain. Praise Your Holy Name!


Ana Lara

Tolland, Connecticut, United States

This hymn was written on the evening of George Matheson’s sister’s marriage. Years before he had been engaged until his fiancée learned he was going blind and that there was nothing the doctors could do. She told him she could not go through life with a blind man.

He went blind while studying for the ministry and his sister had been the one to care for him but now she was going away to be married. He was now 40 years old and his sister’s marriage was a fresh reminder of his own heart break. It was in the midst of these circumstances and intense sadness that the Lord gave Matheson this hymn which he said was written in five minutes.


Paulina Smith

Las Vegas, NV, United States

"I cannot close my heart to Thee." This is the song on my heart today as I study.


L.C.

Charlotte, NC, United States

I always love singing this song when I’m distressed by situations of the world. “Lord guide us, and never let us go. Lord I give myself to thee! ” “Lord be with the married couples, and communication/positions in the church... ”


Yuri

Lord thank You only Your love does not let us go! Hallelujah! Jesus is King!


Akwele

Ghana

I give Thee back the life I owe🤗🙇‍♀️


Hephzibah Huggins

Pontarddulais, Swansea

This hymn came into my thoughts this morning while I was washing up after breakfast. That God loves me so much that He will not let me go made me cry. I had been doubting whether my faith is real and then I saw Leigh Powell’s words “Only when we are born again can we sing this hymn in worship to God”. I believe I was meant to see these words.


Leigh Powell

United Kingdom

This hymn does not mention the gospel of God, nor the Lord Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son. The gospel tells us that we are sinners who can only be saved for Heaven by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ taking away our sin on the cross and dying for us, and then rising again from the dead. He did not deserve to die, as He is sinless, and that is why He arose again, by the Holy Spirit.

Only when we are born again can we sing this hymn in worship to God, who is Love, Light, and joy to us. And all because of the Lord Jesus dying on the Cross and rising again for us. - of which we have to repent of our unbelief and believe the gospel.


Tim Ou

Austin, Texas, United States

O Cross, that lifts up my head.


Oliver McRae

Lubbock, Texas, United States

Brothers and Sisters,

Do not doubt that this song will be in eternity;

Sung as we go about the tasks Our KING has for us,

Shared in leisure amongst HIS Children,

Taught to whatever new live will spring forth - of a season long ago when darkness was given reign, and there was pain and suffering.

The chorus of the Forever Family.