This Sunday we’re learning a new song called God Moves.
William Cowper was a hymnwriter from the 1700s who was very familiar with suffering. Three times he tried to commit suicide. He spent some time in an asylum in my home town of St Albans. But through all of his struggles he gained a deep appreciation for God’s love and providence. This has rarely been captured so well as through the words of his great hymn, God Moves In A Mysterious Way.
That phrase has become something of a cliché with which to bat away seriously dealing with why God does what He does the way He does it. But the words of this hymn could not be less glib if they tried.
On a personal note, this modern reworking of the old hymn by Bob Kauflin, who gives it a new tune and a wonderfully simple chorus, has proven to be an enormous help to me over the last few years. When hard times have come, the verses have reminded me of the mighty God we have and His wonderful way of working all things together for the good of those who love Him. The chorus has given me words with which to respond in trust.
It’s my prayer that this song will help us as we get stuck into the book of Esther to experience the deep comfort of knowing that when times are hard, “behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.”
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform.
He plants His footsteps in the sea
and rides upon the storm.
Deep in His dark and hidden mines,
with never-failing skill,
He fashions all His bright designs
and works His sovereign will.
So God, we trust in You.
O God, we trust in You.
O fearful saints new courage take;
the clouds that you now dread
are big with mercy and will break
in blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
but trust Him for His grace.
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
So God, we trust in You.
O God, we trust in You.
When tears are great and comforts few
we hope in mercies ever new.
We trust in You.
God’s purposes will ripen fast,
unfolding every hour.
The bud may have a bitter taste,
but sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
and scan His work in vain.
God is His own interpreter
and He will make it plain.