O for a Faith that Will Not Shrink
O for a faith that will not shrink
This hymn articulates the Lutheran understanding of faith as a gift that sustains believers through trials and doubts, rooted in trust in God's character rather than human emotion. It reflects the Reformation emphasis on faith as the core of Christian life and the struggle between human weakness and divine grace.
History & Background
Written by English hymn writer William Hiley Bathurst and published in his collection in 1831. The hymn became widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals through the 19th and 20th centuries.
Hymnal Appearances
- Trinity Hymnal — 706
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 396
- United Methodist Hymnal — 496
Bulletin Note
Bathurst (1831) captures the Reformation conviction that faith is God's gift, not human achievement—a steadiness that comes not from emotion but from trust in Christ's finished work and enduring Word.
Preaching Connection
This hymn deepens any sermon on faith as trust rather than feeling, showing how the Law exposes our trembling hearts while the Gospel offers Christ's unshakeable promises to anchor us.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law exposes our frail faith; Gospel strengthens us through God's sustaining grace to persevere amid all trials and taste eternal hope now
Themes
Faith and trust in God Perseverance in discipleship Overcoming doubt and fear Christian courage Growth in faith