Professor Swets (Calvin College) wrote the following words to the tune of Finlandia:
I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found, was found of Thee.
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found, was found of Thee.
Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea;
‘Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me, on me.
‘Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me, on me.
I find, I walk, I love; but O the whole
Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always, always Thou lovedst me.
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always, always Thou lovedst me.
Precious melody; precious words.
Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change, He faithful will remain
Be still my soul, thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end
This hymn was also the favorite of Eric Liddell, the athlete who became famous in the 1924 Olympics for refusing to run on the Sabbath ("Chariots of Fire").
Liddell later became a missionary in China and was imprisoned during WWII. He is said to have taught this hymn to others in the prison camp (where he eventually died of a brain tumor).
Leni