In the last few days, everything I’ve read seems to be saying, “Trust the Lord”: like the book I’m reading about a missionary imprisoned during World War II who depended on Him in the most appalling circumstances; or Psalm 130, with the psalmist’s opening cry, “Out of the depths,” and its final affirmation, “With the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption, and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (NKJV); finally, there are the hymns the Lord has brought to mind at times when I needed encouragement. I doubt not that this happens to you too.

One of those timely hymns this week was “Jesus Never Fails,” words and music by Arthur A. Luther, 1891-1960. I love this simple expression of faith in the Lord. The hymn is included in Kenneth W. Osbeck’s book Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions, published by Kregel Publishers and newly released as an eBook for PDA’s and cell phones by Olive Tree Bible Software. Osbeck quotes Mr. Luther’s story of his burning childhood desire to be a missionary, how that desire was not to be realized, but how the Lord instead, in a time of particular trial, gave him a song that has gone all over the world and has been translated into numerous languages, trumpeting its three-word message to the earth: “heaven and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails.”

(Read more about Kenneth Osbeck’s book Amazing Grace in Olive Tree’s article series Explore the Bible on your PDA.)