Just As I Am

"Just as I am - though toss'd about, With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears within, without, -O Lamb of God, I come! Just as I am - Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because Thy promise I believe, -O Lamb of God, I come!" Just As I Am, Charlotte Elliott.

"At the age of 32, Charlotte Elliott suffered from a serious illness that left her disabled for the rest of her life. Then her lifelong spiritual mentor César Malan, a Swiss minister and hymnologist, counseled her to replace her rage and inner conflict with peace, and simple faith in God; from that day on, she turned her literary talents to writing hymns. One day when everyone in her family had gone to a church bazaar to raise funds for a charity school, Elliott was left alone, confined by her sickness, depressed with feelings of uselessness and loneliness.” Irene Ting-Ting Lai, Discipleship Ministries, United Methodist Church website. Her troubles of the previous night came with such force that she felt they must be met and conquered in the grace of God. It was at that point she recalled everything she understood about God’s initiative, pardon, promises and free love apart from who she was. She penned one of the most comforting and soothing hymns which has gotten lost in the shuffle of new music.

This morning as I listen to this hymn I am reminded that even in my worst condition I can come to Christ because He came for me. Even in your worst condition, you can come to Christ because you are completely covered. Just like Charlotte Elliott, we can come as we are in our rage and inner conflict. We can come as we are in our loneliness and feelings of uselessness. We can come as we are with our medical challenges because we will be healed one day for good. We can come just as we are because man does not define our value but the Lamb sacrificed for us to show us how valuable we are.

I pray that each of us will also consider the scandalous love of the Lamb, meeting any restless and taunting emotions head-on with that truth. Just because He is our Savior, we can be loved just as we are.