Chisholm was born in 1866 in a log cabin in Franklin,
Kentucky to James Washington and Lucy Jane Chisholm. He received his
education in a little country school in the area, but they were dirt poor, and
he never got past an elementary school education. However, by the age of
sixteen he was a teacher in that same school.
Five years later, at the age of twenty-one, he was the
associate editor of his hometown weekly newspaper, The Franklin Advocate.
In 1893, Henry Clay Morrison, the founder of Asbury College and
Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, held a revival meeting in Franklin. Chisholm
attended and accepted Jesus Christ into his heart and life.
Chisholm married the love of his life: Catherine Vandervere.
It seemed to Thomas that his path in life was now set, that he would be a
minister for the remainder of his days, but the following years showed him
otherwise. Indeed, GOD had a different plan.
Morrison persuaded Chisholm to move to Louisville where he
became editor of the Pentecostal Herald. Though he was ordained a
Methodist minister in 1903, he served only a single, brief appointment at
Scottsville, Kentucky, due to ill health. He moved to Vineland, New Jersey,
where he opened an insurance office.
Chisholm had a difficult early adult life. His health was so
fragile that there were periods of time when he was confined to bed, unable to
work. Between bouts of illness, he would have to push himself to put in extra
hours at various jobs in order to make ends meet.
Financial troubles also emerged in the years that followed
as a result of multiple healthcare costs. In the midst of a health and
financial crisis, many individuals would have become angry with God, but Thomas
had exactly the opposite reaction.
Chisholm’s view on life remained optimistic. He found great comfort in the Scriptures and in the fact that God was faithful to be his strength in time of illness and weakness, and to provide his needs. One of his favorite scriptures was: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
In 1923, he picked up a pen and a piece of paper to create his most well-known poem, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." While away from home on a mission’s trip, Chisholm often wrote to one of his good friends, William Runyan, a relatively unknown musician. Several poems were exchanged in these letters. Runyan found Chisholm’s poem so moving that he decided to compose a musical score to accompany the lyrics. It was “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and was published in 1923.
For several years, the hymn got very little recognition,
until it was discovered by a Moody Bible Institute professor who loved it
so much and requested it sung so often at chapel services, that the song became
the unofficial theme song of the college.
Chisholm retired in 1953 and spent his remaining years in a
Methodist retirement community in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.
Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible: With [God]
there is no variableness, not even the appearance of turning. He is always the
same, at all seasons of the year, and in all ages; there is no change in His
character, His mode of being, His purposes and plans. What He was millions of
ages before the worlds were made, He is now; what He is now, He will be
countless millions of ages.
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: God is
unchangeable, and our changes and shadows are not from any changes or
alterations in Him. What the sun is in nature, God is in grace, providence, and
glory; and infinitely more
Studylight.org, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible: The
changelessness of Christ means that the system He delivered is also changeless.
The gospel is the same; the plan of redemption is changeless; Christ’s rules
for the church, its government, doctrine, purpose, and hope — all, like Christ
who gave them, are changeless. His wise and benevolent purpose for humanity, His
great love, His assurance of the resurrection and life eternal — all are the
same. Why? He is the same yesterday and today, yea and forever!
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: God's people know the power of His grace, the sweetness of His comforts, the kind care of His providence, and the truth of His promise. All servants of God can give such an account of what He has wrought in them, and done for them, and may lead others to know and believe His power, truth, and love
Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: Those who know
God’s greatness should meditate upon it and proclaim it to others. Not only is
God great, but He is full of goodness, showing covenant faithfulness to His
people and gracious love to people everywhere. Those who have tasted His love
should show their gratitude by praising Him and telling others of His mighty
works. In this way they will help spread His rule to the lives of others
Studylight.org, Barnes’ Notes on the whole Bible: The supply of your spiritual wants; that which supports, and nourishes, and strengthens the soul; the doctrines of the gospel, that are to a weak and guilty soul what needful food is to the weary and decaying body . . . To everlasting life -- The strength derived from the doctrines of the gospel is not exhausted. It endures without wasting away. It nourishes the soul to everlasting life. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
This verse in Scripture is well known and quoted often for every occasion and need. The verse before this one is not as well-known yet provides us with the promise of God needed in our lives: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have HOPE.” (Lamentations 3:21} David Guzik on Enduringword.com said: “For perhaps the first time in the book [of Lamentations], hope is allowed. Having sunk low in his soul, Jeremiah now remembered something that started hope within. ‘In a magnificent expression of faith in the unfailing mercies of God, the writer looks to the distant future with renewed hope.’ (Harrison) The LORD’s mercies . . . was one of the things Jeremiah remembered. He remembered that as beat down and defeated the people of Jerusalem and Judah were, they were not yet completely consumed. There was still a remnant . . . with a promise of restoration. Wherever God leaves life, He leaves hope.”
While many enduring hymns are born out of a particular dramatic experience, this was simply the result of the author’s “morning by morning” realization of God’s personal faithfulness in his daily life. And that’s how each of us will discover God’s faithfulness—day by day.
