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JUST AS I AM

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“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).

 


Charlotte Ellliot was born into a Christian home and into a family deeply committed to their faith, she but struggled with believing in God questioning why she had a disabling illness and often fought with feelings depression, a deep sadness that so overwhelms you, you feel there is no door to open for joy to come into your life.

 

It was during this time of inner turmoil (anger, fear, isolation, sadness) that she met a minister and hymnologist (songwriter) César Malan from Switzerland.  He gently encouraged her to “come to Christ just as you are.”

 

His words inspired her and she came.  Later on, she wrote this hymn, “Just As I Am,” pouring out her heart’s cry for salvation and acceptance, to feel love for herself, “broken and all”, and expressing the profound truth that we can approach God without any pretense or plea, relying solely on His grace and love.

 

The phrase “just as I am” signifies that we can come to Christ exactly as we are, with all our imperfections, doubts, and struggles, without a need to clean ourselves up first. We don’t have to be “perfect” before God will accept us. It is a powerful reminder of God’s unconditional love and grace (favor we didn’t work for), and an invitation to accept His mercy and forgiveness, not based on anything we’ve done or achieved, but on the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

 

You can come to Jesus, too, just as you are.  He will never reject you but rather embrace you, heal you, and put you back together, restore you, as His own beautiful creation to shine the light of your gifts and talents.

 

Charlotte came to Jesus, and His goodness and mercy transformed her mind (Romans 12:2) from thinking and groping in dark sadness to expressing the light of joy for the peace she found in His love.  She gained fame as a poet, showcasing her literary talents and wit, shining her light on the gifts God put inside her despite the illness her body was experiencing.

 



Lyrics come to life with music. God brought William Batchelder Bradbury into Charlotte’s life to add music to her songs.  He, like Charlotte, grew up in a Christian home but into a musical family.  His father was a choir leader and encouraged his son to study music.  William went on to write 59 books and composed music that touched the hearts of countless children and adults, drawing them closer to God through the power of song.

 




There are gifts and talents in you.  You are the Lord’s masterpiece.  When you come to Him, He will bring you out!

 

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

 



© 2024 by Patience Osei-Anyamesem. All rights reserved.  Published by The Light In Me Enterprise.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—without the prior written permission of the publisher.  The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews or other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

 

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are from The New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.  Used by permission. All rights reserved.


The artwork depicted in the blog article is carefully selected to draw out the points made for healing of the soul, and by no means promote any ideologies from the various artists unless they are found in the center of God's perfect will.

Download audio @ www.mp3.pm:

1.        Selah @ Warner Chappell Music, Inc. (Amy Nichole Perry, 2014)

2.        Lifeway Kids Worship, The Gospel Project for Kids Vol. 8: Jesus the Servant (2020)

 

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