A Hymn on Growth

I love the old hymns of the Christian faith. It wasn’t always the case, but over the last couple of years, I have become something of an apologist for hymns. Where once I found them dry and boring, I see them now as fresh, alive, and bursting with God-exalting theology. The hymn “I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow,” by John Newton, is a particularly good example of what I mean by “fresh,” “alive,” and “God-exalting”.

It tells the tale of a believer asking the Lord for personal growth “in faith, and love, and every grace,” to know God’s salvation more fully, and seek God more earnestly (worthy desires if ever there were any). Nevertheless, when I listen to/read this hymn, I cannot help but crack a tiny smile at the way God answers the prayer (and has answered it in my own life): He answers it in such a way that drivers the believer nearly to despair.  In essence, the Christian wishes for God to simply flip some sort of personal growth switch at once “in some favored hour.” God, however, answers the prayer by making the believer feel the evils of his heart and human nature, removing all his designs and plans for earthly joy to set him free from self and pride, finally allowing the believer to find joy and rest in God. Enjoy.

I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow
By: John Newton

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”