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Lyrics of Comfort
By John R. Gavazzoni

It has been on my mind for quite some time to share what has been a comfort to me beginning over 69 years ago when Jesus called me to Himself, and that is the lyrics of hymns and gospel songs that especially brought comfort and encouragement to me in my walk with the Lord over these many years. Simplicity of message will be most prominent, with some having more depth. All are especially meaningful to me, having been raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, which until my conversion at age 16, all my recollection was of the traditional Roman Mass in Latin. The world of hymns and gospel songs that expressed a living experience of the grace of God, was a whole new world for me, and that has never changed.

I will just go from song to song mostly without reference to their titles or authors. I hope you too will find something of the comfort and encouragement that I have. I'll often, as Jan, my wife, will attest, in the middle of a day, break forth in song, sometimes going to the piano to accompany myself, and other times a cappella. I'm sharing these from memory in most cases, usually, without checking how accurate that memory is. In most cases, rather than include all the stanzas, I've chosen to feature just one or two, or at the most, three:

And can it be that I should gain an entrance in my Savior's love;
Died He for me who caused His pain, for me who Him to death pursued.
Amazing love, how can it be that Thou, my God, should'st die for me.
Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou, my God, should'st die for me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound by sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I rose, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell of, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Amazing love, how can it be that Thou, my God should'st die for me.
Amazing love, how can it be that Thou, my god should'st die for me.

I trust in God wherever I may be, upon the land or on the rolling sea;
For come what may, from day to day, my Heavenly Father watches over me.

He makes the rose an object of His care; He guides the eagle through the pathless air;
And surely He, remembers me; my Heavenly Father watches over me.

I trust in God, I know He cares for me, on mountain bleak, or on the rolling sea
Though billows roll, He keeps my soul; my Heavenly Father watches over me.

Under His wings, I am safely abiding, though the night deepens, and tempests are wild.
Still, I can trust Him, I know He will keep me, He has redeemed me and I am His child.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow, how the heart yearningly turns to His rest.
Often when earth has no balm for my healing, there I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Under His wings, O what precious enjoyment; there will I hide to life's trials are o'er.
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me; resting in Jesus, I'm safe evermore.

Under His wings, under His wings; who from His love can sever.
Under His wings, my soul shall abide, safely abide forever.

O safe to the Rock that is higher than I, my soul in its sorrow for comfort must fly.
So sinful, so weary, thine, thine, would I be; O blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.

Hiding in Thee; hiding in Thee.
O blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.

When peace like a river attendeth my way; when sorrows like sea billows roll.
What ever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say; it is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control;
That Christ hast regarded my helpless estate, and has shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought; my sin not in part but the whole;
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more; praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.

It is well with my soul; it is well, it is well, with my soul.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater.
He giveth more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction, He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources;
When our strength has failed, e're the day is half done.
When we have exhausted our human endurance;
Our Father's full giving has only begun.

His love hath no limit; His grace hath no measure;
His power hath no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus;
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

No one understands like Jesus; He's a friend beyond compare.
Meet Him at the throne of mercy. He is waiting for you there.

No one understands like Jesus, when the days are dark and drear.
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus, cast your ever care on Him.

A blessed fellowship my soul has found, with Him whose sweetest name is love.
In Christ, the riches of God's grace abound; the joy's eternal from above.

When I'm with Him; when I'm with Him, the fairest pleasures of the world grow dim.
And in my heart, I feel the thrill of glory. When I'm with Him; when I'm with Him.

I have found a hiding place when sore distressed; Jesus Rock of Ages, strong and true.
In a weary land, I in His shadow rest. He is my strength in all that I do.

I have found a lovely star that shines on high; Jesus, bright and Morning Star to me.
In the night of sorrow, He is ever nigh; He makes the darkest shadows to flee.

Jesus, Rock of Ages, let me hide in Thee. Jesus, Rose of Sharon, sweet Thou art to me.
Lilly of the Valley, Bright and Morning Star. Fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin.
How shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin.
Taking away my burden; setting my spirit free.
O, the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled.
By its transforming power, making Him God's dear child.
Promising peace and pardon, for all eternity.
O the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus; deeper than the mighty rolling sea.
Higher than the mountain; sparkling like the fountain, all sufficient grace for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions; greater far than all my sin and shame.
O, magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name.

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemers praise;
The glories of my God and King, the honor of His name.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me.

Hear Him ye deaf, His praise, ye dumb, your loosed tongues employ
Ye blind behold your Savior come, and leap ye lame for joy.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Safe were the ninety and nine in the fold;
Safe though the night be stormy and cold.
But said the shepherd when counting them o'er,
One sheep is missing, there must be one more.

The shepherd went out to search for his sheep,
And all through the night on the rocky steep;
He sought till he found him, and with love bands he bound him,
And I was that one lost sheep.

But none of the ransomed ever knew, how deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through, e'er He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert, He heard its cry, sick and helpless and ready to die; sick and helpless and ready to die.

But out on the mountain thunder riven, and up from the rocky steep;
There arose a glad cry from the gates of heaven, rejoice, I have found my sheep.
And the angels echoed around the throne; rejoice for the Lord brings back His own.

Could we with ink, the ocean fill,
And were the sky of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor would the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
[note, this was a verse found scratched on wall of an insane asylum,
and later added to the hymn, The Love of God.]

All my life long I had panted for a drink from some cool spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning of the thirst I felt within.

Feeding on the husks around me, till my strength was almost gone;
Longed my soul for something better, only still to hunger on.

Well of water, every springing; bread of life, so rich and free.
Untold wealth that never faileth, my Redeemer is to me.

Hallelujah, I have found Him, whom my soul so long had craved.
Jesus satisfies my longing; by His blood I now am saved.

Deep in my heart there's a gladness, Jesus has saved me from sin.
Praise to His name, what a Savior, cleansing without and within.

He is the fairest of fair ones; He is the lilly, the Rose.
Rivers of mercy surround Him, grace, love, and pity, He shows.

Why do I sing about Jesus; why is He precious to me.
He is my Lord and my Savior; dying He set me free.

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art; how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou Art!

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