Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord; Once it was…
““Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord; Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word. Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own; Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone. Once 'twas painful trying, Now 'tis perfect trust; Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost. Once 'twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast; Once 'twas constant drifting, Now my anchor's cast. Once 'twas busy planning, Now 'tis trustful prayer; Once 'twas anxious caring, Now He has the care. Once 'twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says; Once 'twas constant asking, Now 'tis ceaseless praise. Once it was my working, His it hence shall be; Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me. Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One; Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone. Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He's mine; Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine. Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail; And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the veil.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A poetic progression from personal effort and desire toward complete reliance on divine providence, emphasizing that true fulfillment comes from surrendering to God's will and presence.
In simple terms: From self‑reliance to divine trust.
Key Takeaway
Surrender yields deeper spiritual peace.
Themes
faith
trust
dependence
spiritual growth
transformation
surrender
Mood
hopeful
reverent
reflective
Type
poetic
theological
devotional
When to use this quote
- times of doubt
- seeking purpose
- facing hardship
- pursuing spiritual maturity
Key Concepts
divine providence
personal transformation
prayer
anchor metaphor
Practical Applications
- personal devotional writing
- sermon illustration
Questions to Reflect On
- How does letting go of control deepen faith?
- What does it mean to be an 'anchor' in spiritual practice?