Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right

Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right is a hymn written by Samuel Rodigast in 1675, although it was not sung in the English world until Catherine Winkworth translated it in 1863. This new modern setting aptly complements the rich beauty and joy that is ours knowing that whatever our God ordains is indeed right.

This song is especially meaningful to me. One Sunday after morning worship, a dear friend of mine asked if I had ever read the words of this great hymn. I replied that I really had not paid too much attention to them. She encouraged me to meditate on these rich words. That week, in the midst of mulling over the sovereignty of God, my youngest toddler son was accidentally run over by our neighbor’s van as he backed out of his garage. On the way to the hospital, sitting in the ambulance, the words “he leads me by the proper path; I know he will not leave me. I take, content, what he hath sent…” ran through my mind. Praise be to God, my son was spared that day many years ago. My prayer is that the church of Jesus Christ will rediscover this new hymn, because of the great words, and in part because of this new tune.

Lyrics

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
His holy will abideth;
I will be still whate’er He doth;
And follow where He guideth;
He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to Him I leave it all.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path:
I know He will not leave me.
I take, content, what He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait His day.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him I leave it all.

Click below for your free download of the sheet music.