Come My Soul with All Thy Care
Come, my soul, with all thy care
The hymn exemplifies Lutheran piety by emphasizing the Christian's personal relationship with God the Father and the comfort found in divine providence, reflecting themes central to Luther's emphasis on faith in God's care. It embodies the Reformation principle that believers may approach God directly with their petitions and anxieties, finding peace through trust in Christ's mediatorial work.
History & Background
Originally composed in German by Paul Gerhardt in 1653 as "Befiehl du deine Wege," this hymn was translated into English by John Wesley in 1739, establishing it in English-language Protestant worship. The text became widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Service Book — 779
- Lutheran Worship — 433
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 459
Translation
Bulletin Note
Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676) crafted this hymn in 1653 during religious upheaval in Germany. It distills Lutheran piety into an intimate prayer: anxious hearts find rest through direct access to God's fatherly mercy—a Reformation principle made lyrical.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Gospel's counterintuitive freedom: by confessing our helplessness before God's Law, we discover the comfort of unconditional divine care that the Gospel proclaims.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: human inability to praise adequately (stanzas 1-2) → Christ's redemptive power transforming sinners (stanzas 3-5) → Trinitarian doxology (stanza 6)
Themes
Prayer and trust in God Divine providence Casting cares upon the Lord God's fatherly care Peace in adversity