Edward Mote, pastor of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Horsham West Sussex in the United Kingdom, wrote the lyrics to “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” in 1834. The song is best known by its refrain, “On Christ, the Solid Rock I Stand, All Other Ground is Sinking Sand”.
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness veils his lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Edward Mote, 1834, public domain
It is thought that Mote wrote these lyrics as he pondered Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders, one who built his house on the sand and the other who built his house on solid rock. Whatever his inspiration, it also appears that Mote knew something of the need to call on God during times of “darkness”, ” a high and stormy gale”, “the whelming flood” and “when all around my soul gives way”. Although those lyrics were written so long ago, I think of many of my dear friends – who are going through some really, really tough times – who need this reminder that no matter the circumstances, the promise of God is that “He is all my hope and stay.”
David identified with this need as he called out to God, His Rock.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge…
For who is God but the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Psalm 18:2, 31, 46; 19:14
If you are a believer in Jesus, you have His promise of enduring stability. He will never leave you. He will fulfill every promise. He is your Solid Rock.
One Focus Ministries 