Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 (NJKV)
Elisha Hoffman was born in 1839 in Pennsylvania. He became a Christian as a young boy and after attending the Philadelphia public schools, he completed his education at the Union Seminary of the Evangelical Association. After seminary, Hoffman worked in Ohio at the Evangelical Association’s publishing house and then after his wife died, he returned to Pennsylvania and served the Benton Harbor Presbyterian Church for 33 years.
Hoffman enjoyed writing hymns and sometimes would base the text of his hymns on experiences he had during pastoral visits. On one of these visits, he encountered a woman who suffered from a deep depression. She was distraught and did not know where to turn. He told the woman “You cannot do better than to take all your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.” She was greatly touched and inspired by his words and with great conviction repeated them back to him, “Yes, I must tell Jesus.”
After this visit, Hoffman was inspired to write the hymn, “I Must Tell Jesus.” This great old hymn reminds us that we can take all of our trials and burdens to Jesus and he will carry them for us. He is our “kind, compassionate friend.” When you find yourself weighed down with the burdens and cares of life, remember the text to this hymn and put them into practice. Always remember that “Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.”
I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress he kindly will help me; he ever loves and cares for his own.
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles; he is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask him, he will deliver; make of my troubles quickly an end.
Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior; one who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus; he all my cares and sorrows will share.
O how the world to evil allures me! O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and he will help me over the world the victory to win.
Refrain
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
