R.S. Jones served as a missionary for many years in Brazil. Due to poor health, he returned to the States in 1936, never to return to his beloved mission field. Shortly thereafter, his good friend, B.B McKinney asked him, “What will you do?” Fighting back the tears, the faithful missionary said, “I don’t know, but wherever He leads, I’ll go.” McKinney, already an established hymn writer, was so moved that he wrote the words and music to the classic hymn, “Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go,” that very afternoon. He sang the song that evening at a Sunday School Conference where Jones was the featured speaker. Since then, this song has been sung at thousands of invitation times, crusades, revival services, and worship services.
I don’t know, but wherever He leads, I’ll go
R.S. Jones
We may not always know where He will lead, but we can choose to follow Him. Not just through green valleys, sunny days, and mountain top experiences, but through the desert, in the midst of a storm, and in times of uncertainty. Not just in great times of joy, but also in times of sorrow and pain.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” Proverbs 3:5-6
The next time you stand at a crossroads of indecision, may you have the grace to say, “Wherever He leads, I’ll go.”
Take up thy cross and follow Me,
I heard my Master say;
I gave My life to ransom thee,
Surrender your all today.
Wherever He leads I’ll go,
Wherever He leads I’ll go,
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so,
Wherever He leads I’ll go.
It may be through the shadows dim
Or o’er the stormy sea:
I take my cross and follow Him,
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so,
Wherever He leads I’ll go.
My heart, my life, my all I bring
To Christ who loves me so;
He is my Master, Lord, and King,
Wherever He leads I’ll go.
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so,
Wherever He leads I’ll go.
In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said to his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”