Trust and Obey
John H. Sammis; music Daniel B. Towner · 1887 · tune TRUST AND OBEY
Key of D · public domain
Words
Verse 1When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
RefrainTrust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey
Verse 2Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies
But His smile quickly drives it away
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear
Can abide while we trust and obey
Verse 3Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross
But is blest if we trust and obey
Verse 4Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet
Or we'll walk by His side in the way
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey
The story
The usual account is that Daniel Towner, leading music at a Dwight Moody meeting in Brockton, Massachusetts, probably in 1886, heard a young man stand and say that he was not sure, but that he was going to trust and he was going to obey. Towner wrote the line down and sent it to John Sammis, a Presbyterian minister, who built the hymn around it. It was published in 1887. Whatever the exact wording that night, the hymn holds because it will not let the two verbs come apart. Trusting without obeying is sentiment; obeying without trusting is grinding work. The refrain puts them together and says there is no other way to be happy in Jesus.
Chords in D
Verse 1
D G D
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
D A D
What a glory He sheds on our way
D G D
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
D A D
And with all who will trust and obey
Refrain
D G D
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
D A D
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey
Verse 2
D G D
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies
D A D
But His smile quickly drives it away
D G D
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear
D A D
Can abide while we trust and obey
Verse 3
D G D
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share
D A D
But our toil He doth richly repay
D G D
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross
D A D
But is blest if we trust and obey
Verse 4
D G D
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet
D A D
Or we'll walk by His side in the way
D G D
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go
D A D
Never fear, only trust and obey
In the app you can move this to any key and it works out the capo for you.
Common questions
Who wrote Trust and Obey? John H. Sammis; music Daniel B. Towner wrote the words in 1887.
What tune is it sung to? TRUST AND OBEY, set here in the key of D.
What scripture is it built on? 1 John 1:7.
Is Trust and Obey free to use in church? Yes. The words are public domain, which means any church may sing them, print them in a bulletin, put them on a screen or record them, without asking permission and without paying anyone.
Themes
Obedience · Walking · Assurance
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