by Chris Courtney

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. – James 1:17 (ESV)

Sometimes the world seems to be spinning so fast, it feels like it could wobble right off its axis in an uncontrolled free fall. It’s easy to get anxious these days. Turn on the TV and the horrors around us play out before our eyes. Shootings, political leaders who seem to have lost their minds, COVID variants, supply chain issues, inflation, rumblings of wars, racial tensions… where does it end?

The simple truth is this: what we see, what we think is going on, what we hear and see in the media… none if this is the whole truth. Only God – the Only One Who is omniscient – knows the whole story behind what’s going on this world.

In our lives.

In this unsteady world, we have our Steady, Never Changing Heavenly Father. In Him we can trust. His Word is the Word of Truth. His promises are trustworthy because only He is trustworthy. Despite all the chaos swirling around us, we can stand firm and strong in God and His Word. Regardless of how hopeless our earthly situation may seem, we have Hope in Jesus Christ.

Edward Mote knew this. Born in London in 1797, Mote came to know the Lord at age 18. Long before his days in pulpit ministry (he became a pastor at age 55), Mote spent thirty-seven years as a cabinet maker. One day, on his way to work, Mote had an idea. He explained, “One morning it came into my mind as I went to labour, to write an hymn on the ‘Gracious Experience of a Christian.’:

And that is exactly what he did.

Mote titled his hymn “The Immutable Basis of a Sinner’s Hope”. We know it today as “The Solid Rock”.

Edward Mote knew well in Whom he could place his trust, in Whom he could rest. And he expressed his faith in far more beautiful words that I ever could. Soak in this wonderful verse. Let it fill your soul with the love, grace, mercy, and peace of the Lord our God, Who loves us beyond comprehension. And worship The One Who knows all, created all, and sustains all.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

—Edward Mote (1797-1874)