When Life’s Great Trials Cast You Down: New Reinhardt Hymn!

ONTARIO – When Life’s Great Trials Cast You Down is a new hymn written by Rev. Kurt E. Reinhardt, pastor in Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s East Region, serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Kurtzville, Ontario.

The lyrics to the new hymn will be featured on the back cover of the upcoming September/October issue of The Canadian Lutheran magazine. The same design is also available as a printable PDF, downloadable from LCC’s website on both the Church Worker Wellness Page and the Suicide Safety and The Church Page.

Pastor Reinhardt originally wrote this hymn for a dear brother in Christ, and opted to share the hymn with the broader church expressing his hope that Christ’s comfort given to him might provide comfort to others; and might further “giving meaning and purpose to this person’s suffering, as their trials have resulted in others being comforted in Christ.”

“It came to me as my heart and mind were prayerfully on someone very dear to me, who is struggling with hopelessness in these dark and trying days,” said Reinhardt. “The trials of the pandemic have caused the traumas of this person’s past to resurface making this present time all the harder to bear. Other trials and troubles along with the worry and cares that go with them have worked together to rob them of hope for the present and the future.”

The hymn is set to the tune ACH BLEIB BEI UNS – LSB 585 and the words are as follows:

When Life’s Great Trials Cast You Down 

When life’s great trials cast you down,

Recall that Christ who wears the crown,

First had to tread life’s sorrowed road

And bear the cross’s heavy load.

He knows the burdens of your way

And by your side will always stay;

To lighten your life’s darkest place

He shines on you His gracious face

As your flesh starts to fail you here,

“Fear not,” He says, “for I am near.” 

I’ll be with you in days ahead,

Your risen Saviour from the dead. 

When past days come to haunt your mind

And future’s hope is hard to find,

He calls to you in His sure Word,

“Be not afraid, ’tis I, your Lord” 

“Your past is buried in my grave,

Your days ahead I died to save;

Look up to me and hope you’ll find

To lift your heart and ease your mind. 

Let not your thoughts be cloaked in gloom;

Your life won’t end in death and doom;

In joyous glory at my side,

You ever shall with me abide!”

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Download the Printable Poster

Visit our Church Worker Wellness Page

www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/resources/church-worker-wellness/

Visit our Suicide Safety & The Church Page

www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/resources/suicide-safety/

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