I Must Tell Jesus
Scripture
Give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
~Psalm 55:22, NLT
Quote
Burden-bearing is God’s gracious work—Trusting Him is ours.
~Charles Spurgeon
My Thoughts
Peter was either quoting the verse above or referring to it when he said, So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Life can become a burden and apart from the atoning blood of Christ, it would be a burden I could not bear. Guilt alone would take me down. Thank God for the blood of Jesus. Like yours truly, Elisha Hoffman loved the verses about: Psalm 55:22 was his favorite. Elisha was born on May 7, 1839, in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. His father was a minister and Elisha came to know Christ at an early age. He was a graduate of Union Seminary and after working for 13 years in a publishing house in Cleveland, Ohio, he moved back to Pennsylvania and became the pastor of Benton Harbor Presbyterian Church where he served for the next 33 years. His pastime was writing hymns, many of which were inspired by his own experience as a pastor. He wrote DOWN AT THE CROSS, ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD, LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS, and many more.
As he was visiting one day, he met a woman that seemed to be depressed beyond cure. She opened her broken heart and poured out her sorrows. When she had finished, she was wringing her hands saying over and over, “O what shall I do…O what shall I do?” Hoffman knew what she could do because he had done it many times himself, so he said to the depressed lady…“You cannot do better than to take your sorrows to Jesus. YOU MUST TELL JESUS.” Suddenly the lady’s face lit up with joy and relief, “Yes” she cried, “that is it, I must tell Jesus.” Her answer “I must tell Jesus” kept ringing in Hoffman ear and he was thinking about the lyrics to the song all the way home. When he got home, he was so inspired that he wrote the hymn in minutes.
I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.
Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.
O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the vict’ry to win.
Refrain:
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
Sorry, one more hymn comes to mind…
Are you weary, are you heavyhearted?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?
Tell it to Jesus alone
Do you fear the gath’ring clouds of sorrow?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Are you troubled at the thought of dying?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a friend that’s well known;
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Extra
Well folks we never know what a day will bring. I was in my office, just starting my devotions when Hannah called, our daughter Bethany Hope had just departed this sin cursed world. She moved from time to eternity. We don’t really know any details; only that she had not felt good all week and was having trouble breathing. Anything beyond that is conjecture. We are going to Pecks at 8:30 to make arrangements. Our tenative plans are Tuesday and our second option is Thursday. We are hoping for a Monday night visitation and Tuesday service. Yesterday was an incredibly long day that left us numb but there has been a pouring out of love that for me in unbelievable. David called and said, “Bro Jack you stay with your family Sunday and I will get someone to preach,” and I said no, I had rather preach, but my family might see it a little differently and they did: June Jr. said,“NO, you are not, absolutely no.” Don, you have your Carrie and I have my Hannah…What else can we do but comply? What I am saying GRACE POINT is that I will not be with you Sunday but LORD willing I will see you on Wednesday night.
By the way, today is HOPE’S birthday, she is 48. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. We do give thanks today: we have had a good 2026 with Hope. She has visited us multiple times and attended most of our family events. It has been the best three months we have had in the last ten years and we are thankful for it. I also want to thank all of you for your love and friendship. It is heart-warming and overwhelming.