“How Great Thou Art” possesses a unique ability to deeply move the soul. Whether sung in a grand chorus or hummed quietly in solitude, this timeless hymn has a way of shifting perspectives and stirring the spirit. There’s a palpable sense of wonder that accompanies singing this song, leaving many to contemplate the source of its profound impact.
Billy Graham, when questioned about his frequent use of “How Great Thou Art” at his crusades, offered a simple yet powerful explanation:
“It glorifies God. It turns Christians’ eyes toward God rather than upon themselves. I use it as often as possible because it is such a God-honoring song.”
This insightful statement captures the essence of the hymn’s appeal. It directs our attention away from our own concerns and back to the divine. God’s greatness surpasses any earthly joy and provides solace amidst life’s most turbulent storms.
In moments of personal struggle, when anxieties mount and feelings of inadequacy surface, the message of “How Great Thou Art” becomes particularly resonant. It serves as a potent reminder that the Christian faith is not centered on personal performance or achievements, but on the magnificent being of God and His transformative acts. It’s a song that recalibrates our focus, drawing us back to the foundational truths of the gospel.
The journey of this hymn began with a poem penned in Swedish by Carl Boberg in 1885. Later, it was Stuart Hine, a British missionary, who encountered a Russian translation of Boberg’s work and, inspired by its message, crafted the English version that is now globally recognized and cherished. Hine’s pivotal moment of inspiration occurred during a missionary trip through the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine. Preaching in a small mountain village, he and his wife were caught in a violent thunderstorm. Witnessing the awe-inspiring power of nature as thunder echoed through the mountains, Hine was moved to write the first verse of his English paraphrase:
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
This very power that Hine witnessed in the storm and recognized in creation is the same gospel power that actively works within believers. Echoing the words of the Psalmist, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).
The beauty of “How Great Thou Art” lies in its ability to lift our gaze from our perceived shortcomings to God’s boundless sufficiency – from our feelings of inadequacy to His constant provision. It encourages us to remember and reflect upon the wondrous deeds of God (Psalm 145:5), shifting our minds away from dwelling on personal failings and towards contemplating divine majesty.
This beloved song facilitates a powerful shift in perspective:
From focusing on personal sins and mistakes to embracing God’s sacrifice and grace.
From being consumed by problems and pain to recognizing God’s immeasurable power and mercy.
From dwelling on the internal messiness of the heart to beholding the transformative beauty of God’s love.
From being weighed down by the sorrows of this world to embracing the hope of our true, eternal home.
Let us, therefore, join voices and sing this powerful hymn, directing our attention heavenward, proclaiming God’s goodness and unwavering faithfulness both to ourselves and to those around us (Psalm 145:3-7).
The same God who reigns supreme over storms, who sculpted the mountains and valleys, intimately reaches down to be our personal helper. The God who spoke the cosmos into existence, who intricately formed us in our mother’s womb, willingly sent His only Son to bear the weight of our sins on the cross. And this same God has promised to return, one day, to ultimately set all things right (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Gratitude fills our hearts for the profound way this song serves as a constant reminder of God’s greatness and goodness. May we continue to sing it together, reinforcing these timeless truths in our souls each and every day.
How Great Thou Art
Carl Gustav Boberg, 1885; Stuart K. Hine, c. 1949
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:
Refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
Refrain
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Refrain
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, My God, how great thou art!
