Commit Whatever Grieves Thee
Commit whatever grieves thee
Commit Whatever Grieves Thee is a hymn text by Paul Gerhardt (1653) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by John Wesley. Found in elw 749, lsb 754, lw 427, th 671. Sung to LOVE UNKNOWN.
This hymn expresses the Lutheran emphasis on faith's reliance on God's sovereignty and loving providence, particularly during suffering and uncertainty. It reflects the consolation of the Gospel message that God's perfect will encompasses all human concerns and anxieties.
History & Background
Paul Gerhardt's German hymn 'Befiehl du deine Wege' was first published in his Geistliche Andachten in 1653. John Wesley's English translation appeared in 1737 and became widely used in Methodist and Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 749
- Lutheran Service Book — 754
- Lutheran Worship — 427
- Trinity Hymnal — 671
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 520
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Paul Gerhardt (1653), this Lutheran hymn anchors faith in God's sovereignty during suffering. Its tune, BEFIEHL, has comforted believers through centuries of trial and consolation.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms the Law's exposure of our anxious hearts into the Gospel's promise that Christ's redemptive work frees us to trust God's providential care completely.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From God's eternal love hidden before creation, through Christ's incarnation and atoning sacrifice, to the believer's joyful response in Christ
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Trinity 15 (2×)
- Trinity 4 (2×)
- Easter 4 (1×)
- Trinity 16 (1×)
- Trinity 23 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Epiphany 4 (3×)
- Proper 12 (3×)
- Proper 15 (2×)
- Proper 23 (2×)
- Thanksgiving (2×)
- Easter 7 (1×)
- Proper 5 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
Paul Gerhardt's great hymn of trust, built as an acrostic: the first words of its twelve German stanzas spell out Luther's translation of Psalm 37:5 — 'Befiehl dem Herren deine Weg' und hoff auf ihn, er wird's wohl machen' (Commit your way to the Lord and trust in him; he will do it well). It counsels committing every grief to the God who directs clouds and winds (st. 1); trusting his work rather than anxious care, for nothing is gained by worry but by prayer (st. 2); confesses God's wisdom, power and blessing (st. 3-5); urges patient hope (st. 6-8); honestly admits God may seem silent for a while (st. 9) but will deliver (st. 10); promises the crown and palm (st. 11); and closes in prayer (st. 12). Bach set it in the St. Matthew Passion.
Central theme: Committing all our ways and griefs to God, whose wise and powerful will always finds a way to bless his children
Structure
Twelve eight-line stanzas (7.6.7.6 D). German acrostic on Ps 37:5. Commit (1) — no anxiety (2) — God's wisdom and power (3-5) — hope and patience (6-8) — God's apparent absence and deliverance (9-10) — crown (11) — prayer (12).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout. The Law appears as the futility of 'self-tormenting care' (2) and the reminder 'Thou art not lord and master of thine own destiny' (7).
Confessional Connections
Providence (First Article: God 'richly and daily provides… defends… guards'). Prayer rather than anxiety (LC III). God's hidden ways (Deus absconditus) yet good will toward his children (FC XI). The crown and palm as gifts (Rev 7:9).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
General; times of anxiety; New Year; Trinity season; funerals.
Historical Notes
First printed in Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica (1653). Its acrostic structure was a popular devotional device. Bach used stanzas in the St. Matthew Passion and elsewhere.
About the Tune
HERZLICH TUT MICH VERLANGEN (Hans Leo Hassler, 1601); row 387 uses SUFFICIENTIA.
Scripture References
Ps 37:5 1 Pet 5:7 Ps 147:8 Mark 4:41 Prov 3:5-6 Matt 6:25-34 Phil 4:6 Rom 11:33 Isa 59:1 Ps 145:9 Isa 14:27 Isa 46:10 Ps 42:5 Ps 27:14 Ps 103:19 Isa 55:8-9 Ps 13:1 Isa 54:7-8 1 Cor 10:13 Rev 7:9 2 Tim 4:8 Ps 31:5
Stanza by Stanza
Commit whatever grieves you into the gracious hands of him who never leaves you and commands heaven and earth. He who sets the clouds' courses, whom winds and waves obey, will direct your steps and find a way for you.
Ps 37:5 (German acrostic first word 'Befiehl' — commit). 1 Pet 5:7: 'casting all your anxieties on him.' The God who directs clouds (Ps 147:8) and whom 'winds and waves obey' (Mark 4:41) can surely direct our paths (Prov 3:6).
- Scripture
- Ps 37:5, 1 Pet 5:7, Ps 147:8, Mark 4:41, Prov 3:5-6
- Imagery & language
- Committing; clouds, winds, waves.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's sovereign care.
- Connection to previous
- Commit.
Put your reliance on him if you want to be secure; you must consider his work if yours is to last. God is not moved to give by anxious sighs, grieving and self-tormenting care; everything must be gained by prayer.
A penetrating line: 'self-tormenting care' gains nothing (Matt 6:27, 'which of you by being anxious can add a single hour?'). 'All must be gained by prayer' (Phil 4:6). 'His work thou must consider' — God's work, not ours, endures.
- Scripture
- Matt 6:25-34, Phil 4:6, Ps 127:1-2
- Imagery & language
- Anxious sighs vs. prayer.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — futility of worry; Gospel — prayer.
- Connection to previous
- Prayer not worry.
Your truth and grace, Father, surely see and know what is good and evil for us mortals; you pursue your work according to your counsel, and what your wisdom chooses your power always does.
God's truth and grace see what is truly good for us (Rom 8:28). His wisdom chooses and his power accomplishes (Eph 1:11). Wisdom and power together — no plan of God fails.
- Scripture
- Rom 8:28, Eph 1:11, Rom 11:33
- Imagery & language
- Truth and grace; wisdom and might.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's wise power.
- Connection to previous
- God's wisdom.
Your hand is never too short; all things must serve your power; your every act is blessing, your path the purest light. No one can hinder your work or stop your purpose, since you always find a way to bless your children.
'The LORD's hand is not shortened' (Isa 59:1). 'All things serve you' (Ps 119:91). 'Thine every act is blessing' (Ps 145:9). 'Thou… wilt always find a way' to bless — the refrain of the hymn.
- Scripture
- Isa 59:1, Ps 119:91, Ps 145:9, Isa 14:27
- Imagery & language
- Hand not shortened; path of light.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — unstoppable blessing.
- Connection to previous
- God's power.
Though all the powers of evil oppose God's will, his purpose will not falter; his pleasure goes forward. Whatever God's will decides, whatever he intends, will always be accomplished, true to his aims and ends.
Isa 46:10: 'My counsel shall stand.' Evil cannot thwart God's will (Gen 50:20; Acts 4:27-28). This is comfort, not fatalism: God's will is gracious toward his children.
- Scripture
- Isa 46:10, Gen 50:20, Acts 4:27-28, Ps 33:11
- Imagery & language
- Powers of evil; unstoppable purpose.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God's will prevails.
- Connection to previous
- Evil opposed.
So hope, my weak spirit, and do not be dismayed; God helps in every trial and makes you unafraid. Wait patiently for his time, and then your eyes will see the sun of joy and gladness unfold its brightest beams.
'Hope in God' (Ps 42:5). 'Wait for the LORD' (Ps 27:14). God's timing, not ours. 'The sun of joy' — Mal 4:2.
- Scripture
- Ps 42:5, Ps 27:14, Isa 40:31, Mal 4:2
- Imagery & language
- Hope; waiting; sunrise.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — patient hope.
- Connection to previous
- Hope.
Rise, my soul, and banish your anguish and care. Away with saddening thoughts that trap heart and mind! You are not lord and master of your own destiny; God, enthroned in highest heaven, rules justly.
A rebuke to self-sovereignty: 'Thou art not lord and master of thine own destiny' — the First Commandment against self as god. Freedom from anxiety comes from accepting that God rules (Ps 103:19; Prov 16:9).
- Scripture
- Ps 103:19, Prov 16:9, Jer 10:23, Ps 47:8
- Imagery & language
- Banishing care; not master of destiny.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — not our own lord; Gospel — God rules.
- Connection to previous
- God rules.
Leave everything to his direction; he reigns in wisdom and will maintain his course in a wondrous way. Soon, keeping his promise with wonder-working skill, he will take away the sorrows that now fill your spirit.
'Leave all' — total entrustment. 'In a way most wondrous' (Isa 55:8-9). 'His promise keeping' — the ground of hope is God's promise.
- Scripture
- Isa 55:8-9, Ps 37:5-7, Rev 21:4
- Imagery & language
- Direction; wondrous way.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — promise kept.
- Connection to previous
- Leave all.
For a while he may deny you his comfort and seem to flee far from you in trial; for a while distress and anguish may surround you, and no answering voice be found to your prayer.
Remarkable honesty: God may 'seem' absent and prayers seem unanswered (Ps 13:1; 22:2; Isa 54:7-8 'for a brief moment I deserted you'). Lutheran theology knows Anfechtung — God hidden under silence. 'Seem' is the key word.
- Scripture
- Ps 13:1-2, Ps 22:1-2, Isa 54:7-8, Lam 3:8
- Imagery & language
- Seeming absence; silence.
- Law / Gospel
- Realism — God's hiddenness.
- Connection to previous
- Silence.
But if you persevere, you will find deliverance. Look, quite unexpectedly he will set your soul free and lift the heavy burden from your heart; and you will see the blessing he had in mind for you.
Deliverance comes 'all unexpected' (1 Cor 10:13). 'The blessing He had in mind for thee' — Gen 50:20; Jer 29:11. Perseverance is itself God's gift (FC XI).
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 10:13, Gen 50:20, Jer 29:11, Jas 5:11
- Imagery & language
- Unexpected release.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — deliverance.
- Connection to previous
- Deliverance.
Faithful child of heaven, how blessed you will be! A crown awaits you with songs of glad thanksgiving; your Maker will put the victor's palm in your hand, and you will sing a joyful psalm to your Deliverer.
The palm (Rev 7:9) and crown (2 Tim 4:8; Rev 2:10) — given by the Maker. 'A joyous psalm to thy Deliverer.'
- Scripture
- Rev 7:9-10, 2 Tim 4:8, Rev 2:10, Ps 18:2
- Imagery & language
- Crown; palm; psalm.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — crown and victory.
- Connection to previous
- Crown.
Lord, give this end to all our heart's distress; always strengthen our hands and feet, and bless our spirits in death. Grant your truth and protection always, we pray, and our destined way will end in heavenly glory.
The hymn ends in prayer. 'Strengthen… hands… feet' (Heb 12:12). 'In death our spirits bless' (Ps 31:5). 'Celestial glory' — the end of the way committed to God in st. 1.
- Scripture
- Heb 12:12-13, Ps 31:5, Ps 73:24
- Imagery & language
- Consummation; hands and feet; glory.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — prayer for the end.
- Connection to previous
- Prayer.
Themes
Providence Trust in God Surrender to divine will Comfort in affliction Faith