Healing Heart & Soul

I Need Thee Every Hour

BY ALICIA ROBERTS

I NEEDED MY SAVIOR TO STEP IN AND SAVE THE DAY.

I was at my wit’s end. I felt confused and powerless. I tried calling out to the Lord and praying but couldn’t gather the words. My spirit was broken, and I had trouble uttering my prayer request. With tears in my eyes and yet a little hope in my heart, I began to sing…

I Need Thee, Oh, I Need Thee. Every Hour, I Need Thee. Oh, Bless Me Now, My Savior, I Come to Thee!

This old hymn, written initially by Annie S. Hawks and remade several times, was all I could mutter, so I began to repeat the refrain over and over. Each time I sang it, I felt the urge to sing it again with more intentionality and authority. Overwhelmed with emotion, I lifted my hands and allowed each phrase to penetrate my heart. With each round, I felt the chaos in my mind clear, and the weight of my stress began to subside.

The song helped me to center and focus in a way that allowed me to find the words and the strength to pray. The hymn’s lyrics were short and simple, but they were so powerful to me. I needed the Lord to hear me. The song reminded me that I needed Him not only in this situation but in every hour of my life. The lyrics were a cry out to the Lord to bless me now, and I certainly needed a blessing.

Have you ever felt so defeated that you were emotionally done or at your wit’s end? Ever needed a miracle or breakthrough to occur but felt too bogged down with fear or concern to cast your cares upon God? 1 Peter 5:7 says, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (NIV). In this passage of scripture, Peter admonishes us to compile all of our worries and concerns and give them to God as He cares for us and can alone fulfill our needs. When we humble ourselves and let go, not only will we feel better, but that is also when God can truly work on our behalf.

When I began reciting the words of the hymn, I was a bit of an emotional wreck because of several issues that came crashing down on me all at once. My son was having problems at school, work was busy, my to-do list just kept getting longer, finances were challenged, and I was tired physically and emotionally. I began to experience the routine brunt of single motherhood, and my emotions were triggered. I needed my Savior to step in and save the day.

There was a time in the past when I was broken over the fact that I had to raise my child alone as a result of divorce. Having only a small and, at times, inconsistent support system often crushed my spirit. Over the years, I was blessed to receive what I needed. God always supplied, but I also had to undergo some healing to cope with past abandonment and resentment wounds.

I’d done the work to move past the wounds, but as we know, emotional triggers don’t always go away. Our response to them helps us maintain our healing. All the problems I was experiencing triggered deep within me the hurt of being a single mom with limited support. However, I chose to respond to my trigger through prayer and praise.

I NEEDED THE LORD TO HEAR ME.

1 John 5:14-15 (NIV) says, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. This scripture reminds us to be confident that God hears us and will answer our prayers according to His will. His will for us is that we live an abundant life. He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us; therefore, we can rest assured that He doesn’t want us to live life broken, hurt, and confused.

HE CARES FOR US AND CAN ALONE FULFILL OUR NEEDS.

Reflecting on and singing songs such as “I Need Thee Every Hour” gives us the power to pause our moment of suffering and reminds us that we have the key to overcome anything. Our key is Jesus. When we submit our petitions to Him in prayer, we can be confident that He understands our requests even when we can’t get all the words out. Meditating on and reciting the lyrics is a form of praise, and God loves our praise.

Whether you are going through a tough time or have difficulty starting your prayers, I encourage you to say whatever comes to mind. Don’t get caught up feeling you need to say the “right things.” God knows your heart, and He can fill in the gaps. You can even try singing a song or reciting a text and allowing the words to speak for you. Remember that He sees, hears, and cares for you. Your troubles and worries are no match for Him, and He is waiting to bless you!

Alicia Renee’ is a resilient woman who has triumphed over heartbreak and life’s challenges. She is a best-selling author, speaker, and certified inner-healing and confidence coach committed to empowering women and helping them get unstuck. She is also the founder of The Confident Lily. Connect with her at www.confidentlily.com

Reference:

Hawks, Annie S. (1872). “I Need Thee Every Hour.” On Then Sings My Soul: Reflections of Over 40 Favourite Hymns. Monarch Books.