“But My mercies I’ll renew . . .”

Old hymns with new tunes (usually) make me happy.

I’ve been listening to this hymn from Red Mountain Church’s Gadsby Project record quite a bit lately. The lyrics are incredible and the new tune and arrangement are near-perfect. This is what I wish more of “modern worship” looked and sounded like (thankfully, it actually does look and sound quite a bit like this where we worship on Sundays) . . .

Pensive, Doubting, Fearful Heart
(or: To the Afflicted, Tossed With Tempests and Not Comforted)
words: John Newton

Pensive, doubting, fearful heart,
Hear what Christ the Saviour says;
Every word should joy impart,
Change thy mourning into praise:
Yes, he speaks, and speaks to thee,
May he help thee to believe!
Then thou presently will see,
Thou hast little cause to grieve.

Fear thou not, nor be ashamed,
All thy sorrows soon shall end
I who heav’n and earth have framed,
Am thy husband and thy friend
I the High and Holy One,
Israel’s God by all adored;
As thy Saviour will be known,
Thy Redeemer and thy Lord.

For a moment I withdrew,
And thy heart was filled with pain;
But my mercies I’ll renew,
Thou shalt soon rejoice again:
Though I seem to hide my face,
Very soon my wrath shall cease;
‘Tis but for a moment’s space,
Ending in eternal peace.

Though afflicted, tempest-tossed,
Comfortless awhile thou art,
Do not think thou canst be lost,
Thou art graven on my heart
All thy wastes I will repair,
Thou shalt be rebuilt anew;
And in thee it shall appear,
What the God of love can do.

To listen to a long clip (nearly half the song), click here.