Anne Steele lived in the mid 1700’s. She was the daughter of a Baptist minister in a small town in England. When she was 3 years old, her mother died from illness. When Anne herself was nineteen, she was involved in an accident that left her disabled after a severe hip injury. If that wasn’t enough, on the eve of her wedding when she was 21, her fiancé drowned. Undoubtedly, her life was marked by tragedy and hardship.
All of these trials must have lay heavy on her heart, yet she did not curse God. She sought refuge in God and her faith in him. She wrote great hymns to God. She writes of doubt and yet unshakable faith in her heavenly father.
The song below was written shortly after what would have been her wedding day. The best day of any girls life that turned out to be a horrific day in Anne’s life.
There is a theme of God’s power to heal and forgive in the song. The truth is we are all weary. We are all sinful and are seeking refuge from our struggles. We all have baggage. We all have pain. Yet, we all have a God who is willing, able, and ready to offer true peace, grace, forgiveness, and love. Christ alone is our refuge. Christ alone is our savior.
My favorite line in the whole song comes in verse 3 (see below.)
“…and can the ear of sovereign grace, be deaf when I complain”
That pierces my heart. Yes, I have struggled in my life. Yes, “bad” things have happened. I complain. A LOT.
However, if God is who he says he is (which, for the record, he is…) isn’t that enough? Our God is bigger than our struggles. He forgives 100%. He loves 100%. Isn’t that enough?
LIFE IS HARD, but Good is good. That is enough.
1. Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise
On thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies
To thee I tell each rising grief,
For thou alone canst heal
Thy word can bring a sweet relief,
For every pain I feel
2. But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call thee mine
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline
Yet Gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou are my only trust
And still my soul would cleave to thee
Though prostrate in the dust
3. Hast thou not bid me seek thy face,
and shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sovereign grace,
Be deaf when I complain?
No still the ear of sovereign grace,
Attends the mourner’s prayer
Oh may I ever find access,
To breathe my sorrows there
4. Thy mercy seat in open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend thy will,
And wait beneath thy feet,
They mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend thy will,
