“God Will Take Care of You” is a beautiful and uplifting
hymn that has been a source of comfort and inspiration for many Christians over
the years. The story behind its creation is just as inspiring as the song
itself.
Civilla Durfee Martin (1866-1948) was born in Nova Scotia. She
was a schoolteacher with a modest musical training. She and her husband, Walter
Stillman, often wrote gospel songs for revival meetings. “God Will Take Care of
You” is an example of their collaboration.
Walter Martin was a
Baptist minister who received his education at Harvard. He later became a
member of the Disciples of Christ, teaching at Atlantic Christian College (Now
Barton College) in Wilson, North Carolina, and, before moving to Atlanta in
1919.
The couple was spending some time at the Practical Bible
Training School in Lestershire, New York, when Civilla became suddenly ill on a
Sunday morning.
Walter was scheduled to give a sermon at a church some
distance away. He considered canceling his speaking engagement so that he could
stay by her side. It was then that their young son spoke up, reminding them
that if God wanted Mr. Martin to preach that day, He would take care of Mrs.
Martin while her husband was away.
Inspired by her son’s words, Civilla wrote the lyrics to
“God Will Take Care of You” that afternoon. When her husband returned, she
shared the words with him, and he composed the music on his organ. The same
evening, he and two of the teachers at the school sang the completed song, and
it was included in a songbook that Martin and the school’s president were
compiling.
Civilla Martin also penned the text of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" (1905) and “The Blood Will
Never Lose Its Power” (1912).
This hymn has impacted many lives, and to this day still does. One man in particular, about 25 years or so after the song was written (1930), was hospitalized with a severe case of shingles. His prior business deals had failed, and he was in physical pain as well as emotional pain. He was filled with despair and little hope. One morning while in his hospital bed, he heard this hymn coming from the hospital chapel.
The man followed the music into the chapel and as he listened, he felt his
burdens lift. All worries left him, as he realized just how much God loved him.
He later recalled those moments in the chapel as the most dramatic and glorious
twenty minutes of his life.
Who is this man who was so filled with despair? James C. Penney, founder of the
store chain, J.C. Penney.
Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: This verse is
plain in its meaning and is full of consolation. It is to be regarded as
addressed primarily to the exiled Jews during their long and painful captivity
in Babylon; and the idea is they who had been selected by God to be his special
people had nothing to fear. But the promise is one that may be regarded as
addressed to all His people in similar circumstances. It is as true now and it
was then. Those whom God has chosen have nothing to fear.
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: It was as if God said to His people, “Remember Me? The God of all power and glory? I’m that One. I am your God” . . . be not dismayed, for I am your God.
Crosswalk.com, Anne Peterson, Contributing Writer: Matthew Henry's Commentary gives a wonderful, hope-filled explanation of Isaiah 41:10: “The scope of these verses is to silence the fears, and encourage the faith of the servants of God in their distresses. Perhaps it is intended, in the first place, for the support of God’s Israel, in captivity; but all that faithfully serve God through patience and comfort of this Scripture may have hope.”
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: He that by
faith chooses God for his protector shall find all in Him that he needs or can
desire. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge,
cannot but desire that others may do so. The spiritual life is protected by
Divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler,
and from the contagion (communication of disease) of sin, which is a noisome
pestilence. Great security is promised to believers in the midst of danger.
Biblestudytools.com: God is rich not only in the perfections of His nature . . . and in the works of His hands, of creation and providence, the whole earth is full of His riches and according to these riches of His goodness He supplies the wants of all creatures living. He is also rich in grace and mercy, and it is according to the riches of His grace that He supplies the spiritual wants of His people. He does it like Himself, according to the riches He has; He gives all things richly to enjoy, plenteously and abundantly.
Dailyverse.knowing-Jesus.com: We rejoice in the abundant supply of our generous God who is overflowing with gracious-mercy and bubbling over with loving-kindness. He does not make any promises that will be broken, and the super-abundance of His generosity covers all things. It covers anything and everything that we need.
Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: The meaning is that we are to commit our whole cause to Him. If we suffer heavy trials; if we lose our friends, health, or property; if we have arduous and responsible duties to perform; if we feel that we have no strength, and are in danger of being crushed by what is laid upon us, we may go and cast all upon the Lord; that is, we may look to Him for grace and strength, and feel assured that He will enable us to sustain all that is laid upon us. The relief in the case will be as real, and as full of consolation, as if He took the burden and bore it Himself. He will enable us to bear with ease what we supposed we could never have done; and the burden which He lays upon us will be light.”
The lyrics of “God Will Take Care of You” are a testament to the faith and trust that we can have in God’s care and protection. It reminds us that no matter what challenges we may face, we can rely on God to see us through and provide for our needs . . . So, whenever you feel down or lost, just remember these simple yet powerful words: “Be not dismayed whatever betide, God will take care of you.”
