O Master, let me walk with thee
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me thy secret, help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me thy patience; still with thee
In closer, dearer company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broad’ning way.
In peace that only thou canst give,
With thee, O Master, let me live.
~ Washington Gladden
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Tonight as I washed dishes after supper, I pondered the things the Lord has been teaching me & the ways He’s working in the lives of those around me. I have a friend getting married soon and another not-by-blood-but-bond sister recently got engaged. A young boy found out today that his leg doesn’t need to be amputated but the cancer is still affecting his life in many ways. Another friend told me last night that she cannot eat at a restaurant without a vaccine and passport to prove it, which makes life complicated and frustrating. Life changes, with pain and joy, hard and good contrasting on many different scales.
While I rolled these contrasts of life around in my mind and mulled over them in my heart, this song started playing from my bluetooth speaker. I listened to the words of this hymn that has come to mean so much to me and let them soak into my heart, gaining both encouragement and conviction. I felt the Lord prompting me that I should take these words and apply them to my life today and I wanted to share them with you too!
“….let me walk with thee, in lowly paths of service free.” Walking with someone takes effort, time, and energy. When we go on a walk with someone else, we match our steps to theirs. Whether we think about it when we walk or not, it takes work. Walking with our Master will too.
“In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, in trust that triumphs over wrong.” How is your trust today? Do you believe that our Jesus WILL triumph over wrong? Do you believe that He holds the power to keep your faith and make it sweet and strong?
“In hope that sends a shining ray, far down the future’s broad’ning way. In peace that only thou canst give, with thee, O Master, let me live.” His hope is a light shining clear and bright in a dark and ugly world. It reaches to the darkest corners of the future that looks uncertain and scary to us. It lightens our loads of worry and eases our aching hearts with its sunshine and reminders of our Saviours goodness. The peace that our heavenly Father gives is like no other. It is all-encompassing, ever-lasting, and cannot be compared to an earthly peace. I long to live in a place of rest and peace that my Shepherd gives because I know from experience that any peace this world tries to offer me is a cheap substitute.
It’s easy to turn to our phones, books, friends, the news, rearranging furniture, baking one more thing, or making one more shopping trip. It’s easy to lash out at someone we care about deeply, tear down the character of someone we find hard to love, or waste time doing things that really don’t need our attention or energy. But it’s hard to find quiet moments to spend with Jesus, take time to write a note to the struggling friend, spend time with another friend in need of a listening ear, or sit on the floor to play a game with the 4-year-old when the laundry is calling our name. Yet, when we choose those harder things, we choose the ones with more eternal value. In being intentional with our decisions, we are choosing to walk with the Master. And isn’t that all of our prayers? To walk with Him, having a servant’s heart, with a sweet and strong faith, knowing that he guides us and sheds light on our path.
I pray we all can say with this author, “Master let me walk with thee” through whatever season we’re currently in, knowing He is the best one to walk with. Knowing that it won’t be easy, but praying that prayer all the same. I hope you have a week filled with intentionality to listen for and hear the heart of the Shepherd, whether in joy or pain. May we all be encouraged and feel His presence with us.
Here’s a link to my favorite rendition of the song by Altar of Praise
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Kaitlyn Burkey
Author Bio: Kaitlyn is a lover of sunsets, especially the ones in her home-state of Nebraska. She enjoys drinking coffee, exploring new places, spending time with new and old friends, and deep conversations with people of all ages. You can often find her behind the desk in her little office, at home baking something, reading a book, or spending time with her family. She is passionate about finding beauty and joy in the everyday moments of life and sharing it with others. Kait always enjoys making friends and connecting with others, so you’re welcome to reach out to her on Instagram at @_katie.burk_ or email her at