More Love to Thee, o Christ

Elizabeth Prentiss, the wife of a minister, spent most of her adult life as an invalid, seldom knowing a day without constant pain throughout her body. Yet she was described by her friends as a bright-eyed, cheery woman with a keen sense of humor.

Elizabeth was always strong in her faith and she always encouraged others, until tragedy struck her family beyond what even she could bear.

Elizabeth and her husband lost two of their children. The loss of two of their children brought great sorrow to Elizabeth’s life. For weeks, no one could console her. In her diary she wrote of “empty hands, a worn-out, exhausted body, and a longing to flee from a world that has so many sharp experiences.”

During this period of grief, Elizabeth cried out to God, asking Him to minister to her broken spirit. It was at this time that Elizabeth’s pain brought something inspirational to all of us!

For many years, Christians have been encouraged as they sing the words penned by Elizabeth Prentiss in her deepest sorrow:

More love to Thee, O Christ,
more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer
I make on bended knee;

This is my earnest plea:
More love, O Christ, to Thee…

Once earthly joy I craved,
sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek—
Give what is best;

This all my prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ, to Thee…

Let sorrow do its work,
send grief and pain;
Sweet are Thy messengers,
sweet their refrain,

When they can sing with me,
More love, O Christ, to Thee…

Then shall my latest breath
whisper Thy praise;
This be the parting cry
my heart shall raise;

This still its prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ, to Thee.

Elizabeth Prentiss…out of her pain and agony…wrote one of the most inspirational Christians songs in our songbook. Something good came from her tragedy.

Likewise, something good can come from our painful situations. For God promises in His word that He will work all things together for our good. Jesus' pain resulted in the redemption of mankind. Our pain can result in something positive as well.