I Am Trusting Thee Lord Jesus

I Am Trusting Thee Lord Jesus is a hymn text by Frances Ridley Havergal (1874) in 8.7.8.7 meter. Found in CW21 816, CW93 446, ELH 206, elw 731. Sung to JESUS LOVES ME.

This hymn expresses the Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith through the intimate language of personal trust in Christ's finished work. It combines assurance of salvation with the call to Christian discipleship and sanctification, reflecting the Gospel's transformative power in the believer.

History & Background

Written by Frances Ridley Havergal in 1874, this hymn reflects her mature theology of trust and consecration to Christ. It was first published in her collection and has become a standard hymn of personal faith and assurance in Christian hymnody.

Hymnal Appearances

• Christian Worship: Hymnal — 816
• Christian Worship — 446
• Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 206
• Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 731
• Lutheran Book of Worship — 460
• Lutheran Service Book — 729
• Lutheran Worship — 408
• Trinity Hymnal — 672
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 428

Bulletin Note

Written by Frances Ridley Havergal in 1874, this hymn of personal trust reflects evangelical conviction and deep assurance in Christ's atoning work—hallmarks of Victorian hymn-writing at its finest.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies the Gospel's answer to the Law's demands: our complete surrender to Christ becomes possible and joyful only through faith in his finished redemption, not through our striving.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

• Of Justification Augsburg Confession

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law-Gospel movement: human righteousness exposed as insufficient (stanzas 1-2), Christ's alien righteousness imputed and clothing the believer (stanzas 3-4), concluding in faith-alone boasting

Background Research

Frances Ridley Havergal wrote it in 1874 at Ormont-Dessous, Vaud, Switzerland, during a busy writing season. It was first a leaflet (J. & R. Parlane), then in Loyal Responses, or Daily Melodies for the King's Minstrels (1878), headed 'Trusting Jesus', for the 12th day of a 31-day cycle. It was among her own favourites, and after her death in 1879 a copy was found in her pocket Bible. A plain confession of faith alone: trusting Thee for pardon, cleansing, grace, power, guidance, 'trusting only Thee', each stanza leaning entirely on Christ, with no Pietist self-assessment. Tune BULLINGER by Ethelbert W. Bullinger, the Anglican scholar (later of the Companion Bible), first in Wesley's Hymns and New Supplement (1877); also CAIRNBROOK (Prout).

Sources: praise.org.uk 'I am trusting you, Lord Jesus'.

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

• Lent 4 (1×)
• Quinquagesima (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

• Proper 14 (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

Frances Ridley Havergal, the English poet and musician, wrote this in 1874. Each stanza begins 'I am trusting Thee' and names an object of faith: full salvation (st. 1), pardon (st. 2), cleansing (st. 3), guidance and provision (st. 4), power and the right words (st. 5), and preservation forever (st. 6). Its brevity and repetition make faith's object — Christ alone — unmistakable.

Central theme: Faith as trust in Christ alone for every gift — salvation, pardon, cleansing, guidance, power, preservation

Structure

Six quatrains (8.5.8.3). Salvation (1) — pardon (2) — cleansing (3) — guidance (4) — power (5) — keeping (6).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel throughout; faith described as trust, not achievement.

Confessional Connections

Faith as fiducia — trust, not mere knowledge (Ap IV.48, 304). 'Trusting only Thee' — solus Christus. Holiness 'by Thy blood' (Heb 13:12) — sanctification also rests on Christ. Preservation by Christ (FC XI).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

General; confirmation; funerals; times of trial.

Historical Notes

Havergal (1836-1879), Anglican poet and composer, author of 'Take My Life and Let It Be.'

About the Tune

STEPHANOS (Henry W. Baker, 1868).

Scripture References

Acts 4:12 Eph 2:8 Acts 2:38 Luke 7:38 1 John 1:7 1 Cor 6:11 Ps 23:1-3 Phil 4:19 Eph 3:16 Luke 12:11-12 Jude 24 2 Tim 1:12

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Trust in Christ Assurance of salvation Faith Sanctification Surrender to God

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "I Am Trusting Thee Lord Jesus" ↗
• Search IMSLP for public-domain scores of "JESUS LOVES ME" ↗