Lamentations 3:22-23 “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.“
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Thomas Chisholm (1923) – Most of the hymn stories we will tell are of songs that were written in extraordinary situations in which the author was in shipwreck, thunderstorms, or some type of life changing event, but this hymn story is different. Thomas Chisholm wrote “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” not in an extreme circumstance but as an ordinary man in an ordinary situation. Thomas was a pastor for one year, but most of his life he worked as an insurance agent. He was born and raised in humble Kentucky and struggled with health problems that would stay with him for the rest of his life. Because of the health problems he had and the bills that came with them, he would struggle to make ends meet for most of his life. He wrote, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.” Thomas Chisholm was the definition of ordinary, yet he realized the faithfulness of God, and because he allowed God to use him, we are still singing his lyrics to this day! Let me encourage you, no matter your story, if God has given you a song in your heart or a message on your lips, don’t be afraid to put your lyrics on paper and be a blessing to others. Who is to tell, we may be telling your hymn story one day!
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!