I love the hymnody of the church.  The best hymns have shaped my soul, taught me about Jesus, and helped me to keep Biblical truth close to my thinking, my breathing, and my living.  When I am hurting or confused, overjoyed or excited, it is often a hymn that helps me to express my deepest beliefs and prayers, my most authentic worship and thanksgiving.

One of my very favorite hymns is “How Firm a Foundation.”  In my quiet times of personal prayer, there is no hymn that I have sung more frequently in recent days.  It is a hymn that reminds my heart that, even though the ground often feels unsteady in this angry, divided, and uncertain world, our foundation in the grace of Jesus Christ is unshakable and firm.  This truth speaks to my soul deeply and in a way that gives life and hope.

Here is a recent recording that Tara and I made of this important hymn of faith.  I hope that it falls meaningfully upon your heart.

“How Firm a Foundation”

(From Rippon’s “Selection of Hymns,” 1787; refrain written by Eric Park, 2016)

How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said,

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”

We will stand on your promise

We will live in your grace

We will drink in your mercy

We will know your embrace

Though the ground feels unsteady

Where we walk day by day

We will trust your foundation

We will follow your way

We will trust your foundation

We will follow your way

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow,

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.”

We will stand on your promise

We will live in your grace

We will drink in your mercy

We will know your embrace

Though the ground feels unsteady

Where we walk day by day

We will trust your foundation

We will follow your way

We will trust your foundation

We will follow your way

“The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose

I will not, I will not desert to its foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no, never, no never forsake!”