God Will Take Care of You
A Sermon based on
the hymn by Civilla D. Martin
Introduction
“God Will Take Care of
You” is a gentle, reassuring hymn written by Civilla D. Martin in 1904,
born out of a moment of personal weakness and renewed faith. When Martin
was ill and her husband hesitated to leave her to fulfill a preaching
appointment, their young son said, “Father, don’t you think that if God
wants you to preach today, He will take care of Mother while you’re
away?” Touched by this reminder, Civilla wrote the lyrics, and her
husband Walter composed the music that very evening.
This hymn reminds the
weary, the burdened, and the anxious that we are not alone. Life is full
of troubles—uncertainties, sorrows, and fears—but we are under the
watchful care of our heavenly Father. The lyrics echo Jesus’ teachings
in Matthew 6:25–34, where He urges His disciples not to worry because
the Father knows their needs. Each verse is a gentle sermon, calling us
to cast our cares upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7) and walk with confidence
and peace.
This hymn is more
than a comfort—it is a declaration of trust. Whether we are weak or
strong, sick or well, in gain or loss, God’s faithful care never fails.
Let us explore each stanza to see the promises that anchor our soul in
the storms of life.
Stanza 1
Be not dismayed
whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Scripture reassures
us repeatedly: “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10). We are
called to cast our anxieties upon the Lord because He cares for us (1
Peter 5:7). Like a hen shelters her chicks, God protects us beneath His
wings (Psalm 91:4). This first stanza invites us into the shelter of
divine love, where no burden is too heavy for God to carry.
Stanza 2
Through days of toil
when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.
In our labor and
weariness, God strengthens us. Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives power to the
faint.” Whether our path is smooth or beset by danger, Psalm 23:4
promises His presence even in the valley of the shadow of death. This
stanza reminds us that faith does not remove hardship—it anchors us in
the One who carries us through it.
Stanza 3
All you may need He
will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.
The words of Jesus
in Matthew 6:33 resonate here: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” God is our
Provider—Jehovah-Jireh. He supplies not only our daily needs but
spiritual strength and peace. James 1:17 says every good and perfect
gift comes from above.
Stanza 4
No matter what may
be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
When trials and
tests come, we must not stand alone. Proverbs 3:5 encourages us to trust
in the Lord with all our hearts. This stanza echoes the tenderness of
Jesus in Matthew 11:28, where He invites the weary to come and find
rest. Just as the beloved disciple leaned on Jesus’ breast at the Last
Supper, we too are called to rest in intimate trust.
Chorus
God will take care
of you,
Through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
The chorus seals the
truth repeated in every verse. It’s a promise that spans every
circumstance and every moment. From sunrise to nightfall, from youth to
old age, from health to sickness, through joy and grief—God’s care is
constant. Hebrews 13:5 assures us: “I will never leave you nor forsake
you.”
God Will Take Care of You
Sermon Outline:
Introduction
-
Author: Civilla
D. Martin
-
Theme: Divine
providence and comfort
-
Anchor Verse: 1
Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you”
Stanza 1 –
Resting Beneath His Wings
-
Isaiah 41:10 –
Do not be dismayed
-
Psalm 91:4 –
Under His wings you shall take refuge
-
1 Peter 5:7 – He
cares for you
Stanza 2 –
Strength in Toil and Danger
-
Isaiah 40:29 –
Strength to the weary
-
Psalm 23:4 – He
is with us in danger
-
Psalm 121:7 –
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil
Stanza 3 – God
Provides Our Needs
-
Matthew 6:33 –
All things added to you
-
James 1:17 –
Every good gift comes from God
-
Philippians 4:19
– My God shall supply all your needs
Stanza 4 –
Leaning on Jesus in the Test
-
Proverbs 3:5 –
Trust in the Lord
-
Matthew 11:28 –
Come to Me, you who are weary
-
John 13:23 – The
disciple leaning on Jesus’ breast
Chorus – Daily
Confidence in God’s Care
-
Hebrews 13:5 – I
will never leave you
-
Lamentations
3:22–23 – His compassions fail not
-
Romans 8:38–39 –
Nothing can separate us from His love
Call to Action
Are you weary?
Burdened? Uncertain about tomorrow? Trust in the One who promises to
care for you. Lay your anxieties before Him. Lean on His everlasting
arms. You do not walk alone. Through every day and over all the way, God
will take care of you—if you trust and follow Him.
Scripture Reference List
1 Peter 5:7 – Cast
all your care upon Him
Isaiah 41:10 – Do not fear, for I am with you
Psalm 91:4 – Under His wings you will find refuge
Isaiah 40:29 – He gives strength to the weary
Psalm 23:4 – Fear no evil, for You are with me
Psalm 121:7 – He shall preserve you from evil
Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom of God
James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift comes from God
Philippians 4:19 – God will supply all your needs
Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Matthew 11:28 – Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden
John 13:23 – Leaning on Jesus’ bosom
Hebrews 13:5 – I will never leave you
Lamentations 3:22–23 – His compassions are new every morning
Romans 8:38–39 – Nothing can separate us from His love
Song History
Civilla D. Martin
wrote the lyrics to “God Will Take Care of You” in 1904 during a time of
personal need. Her husband, Walter Stillman Martin, was a preacher and
musician. Inspired by their young son’s faith-filled words and their own
trust in God’s providence, the hymn was born in a moment of trial and
became a lifelong comfort to many. It continues to lift hearts with its
simple, powerful truth: God will take care of you.
Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at
Granby, MO
 |
The
church of Christ
