Come Close

“Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands. You have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart. Because your mind is split down the middle; your love for God [is] on one side and selfish pursuits on the other. “(James 4:8, VOICE)

When suffering enters your life, is it a family member or close friend you turn to first for comfort and advice? The first thing many people to is fall on their knees to pray to Jesus, the source of all power.

The hymn by Elisha Albright Hoffman (E.A.), “I Must Tell Jesus,” first appeared in the Pentecostal Hymns hymnal in 1894. Do these lyrics reflect your belief on life?

Verse One

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.

Chorus [i]

I must tell Jesus.
I must tell Jesus.
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus.
I must tell Jesus.
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

Verse Two

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.

Verse Three

Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.

Verse Four

O how the world to evil allures me.
O how my heart is tempted to sin.
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the vict'ry to win.

E.A. was born on May 7, 1839 in Orwigsburg, PA, and died at the age of ninety on November 25, 1929 in Chicago, IL. He served for forty-two years as a pastor in churches in OH, MI, and IL, and wrote over two thousand hymns during his lifetime.

His father was also a minister, and his parents were musical.  He served in the Union Army during the Civil War. His two wives were Susan and Emma with a total four children.   [ii]

During his ministry in Lebanon, PA as a pastor, E.A. had a visitation with a female parishioner that was greatly suffering in the hills near Lebanon. As a result of that appointment, the above hymn came to birth. Here are E. A.’s own words of that time:

“There was a wo­man to whom God had per­mit­ted ma­ny vi­sit­a­tions of sor­row and af­flict­ion. Com­ing to her home one day, I found her much dis­cour­aged.

She un­bur­dened her heart, con­cluding with the quest­ion, “Bro­ther Hoff­man, what shall I do?”

I quot­ed from the word, and then add­ed, “You can­not do bet­ter than to take all of your sor­rows to Je­sus. You must tell Jesus.”

For a mo­ment she seemed lost in med­i­ta­tion. Then her eyes light­ed as she ex­claimed, “Yes, I must tell Je­sus.” As I left her home I had a vi­sion of that joy-il­lum­in­at­ed face…and I heard all along my path­way the echo, “I must tell Je­sus. I must tell Je­sus.”

You may be leaning on godly people (or even yourself). That can be dangerous because they will disappoint you because they’re imperfect human beings. There’s no guarantee that who’ll you’ll need to lean on the most will be around for in your time of need. Who will always be there to share your problems with? You must tell Jesus first.

Depend (and lean) completely on Jesus. When you lean on something, you expect it to hold you up. He will do that for you in the worst of times. When you think you can’t do something on your own power, Jesus will give you His ability to do what He’s called you to do. Fear vanishes when Jesus is near, and He’s always promised to always be with you.[iii]

“Don't tell God you have a big problem; tell your problem you have a big God.” (makemestfu.tumbir)

E.A. Hoffman

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[i] The chorus is sung at the conclusion of each verse.

 

[ii] E.A. had three children with Susan, who eventually died before remarrying with Emma.

 

[iii] Sources used:

·        Be Undefeatable: Lean on the Lord” by Rick Warren

·        “Behind the Hymn: I Must Tell Jesus” by Diana Leagh Matthews

·        “E. A. Hoffman” (https://hymnary.org/person/Hoffman_Elisha)

·        “Elisha Albright Hoffman 1839-1929” (http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/h/o/f/hoffman_ea.htm)

·        “I Must Tell Jesus” (http://hishymnhistory.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-must-tell-jesus.html)

·        “Lindsay Terry: Story Behind the Song: 'I Must Tell Jesus'”