Father, to Thee We Look in All Our Sorrow

“Father, to Thee We Look in All Our Sorrow” is a tender hymn of trust and comfort written in 1881 by Frederick Lucian Hosmer, one of the leading voices of the New England school of liberal hymn writers. Hosmer had a gift for expressing themes of hope, healing, and the Fatherly compassion of God in a simple and reverent style. This hymn is among his pastoral texts that gently guide the believer to seek solace in the loving presence of God during seasons of grief.

The hymn reflects the biblical promise found in Psalm 34:18, which says, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.” Hosmer draws on this comforting truth by directing the sorrowing soul to turn toward the Father, who sees every tear and understands every unspoken burden. Psalm 147:3 also supports the hymn’s message by declaring that the Lord heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds. The hymn speaks to this divine healing by assuring believers that God’s compassion surrounds them even when the path is heavy and difficult.

Hosmer’s language is gentle and prayerful. He invites the worshipper to place every grief and anxiety before the Father with confidence in His tender care. The hymn echoes the invitation of Matthew 11:28, where Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This promise forms the heart of the hymn, showing that true comfort is found not in earthly solutions but in the presence of God, who carries His children through every trial.

Over time, this hymn has been used in services of comfort, moments of loss, and gatherings focused on God’s sustaining grace. Its quiet strength lies in its humble acknowledgment that human sorrow is real, yet the Father’s love is greater still. It encourages believers to lean on God with patient trust, knowing that He heals, restores, and strengthens the heart that looks to Him. Though written more than a century ago, its message continues to bless those who seek divine comfort in times of need.