Great Is Thy Faithfulness

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” — James 1:17 (KJV)

Among the many gospel hymns that celebrate the goodness and faithfulness of God, few shine as brightly as “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” While some hymns are born out of personal tragedy or dramatic spiritual encounters, this beloved hymn was instead the quiet product of its author’s daily, grateful recognition of God’s constant presence and unwavering care. It was, in his own words, a testimony to the "morning by morning realization of God's personal faithfulness."

Thomas Obadiah Chisholm, the hymn’s writer, was born on July 29, 1866, in a modest log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky. Without access to formal secondary or advanced education, Chisholm began teaching at just sixteen years old in the very schoolhouse where he had received his early education. At age twenty-one, he became the associate editor of The Franklin Favorite, a local weekly newspaper. Six years later, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior during a revival led by Dr. H. C. Morrison in Franklin. This decision would change the course of his life.

At Dr. Morrison’s invitation, Chisholm relocated to Louisville, Kentucky, to serve as the office editor and business manager of Morrison’s publication, the Pentecostal Herald. He later pursued ordination in the Methodist Church, though his ministry was brief due to chronic health problems. By 1909, Chisholm transitioned to a career as a life insurance agent, working first in Winona Lake, Indiana, and later in Vineland, New Jersey. Despite physical limitations, Chisholm led a fruitful life, retiring in 1953 and spending his final years at the Methodist Home for the Aged in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

Throughout his life, Thomas Chisholm remained a prolific writer, penning more than 1,200 poems. Many of these were published in Christian periodicals such as Sunday School Times, Moody Monthly, and Alliance Weekly. A number of his poems were later adapted into hymns and became beloved in churches around the world. In a personal letter written in 1941, Chisholm humbly reflected on his modest means, saying, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years, which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”

In 1923, Chisholm sent several of his poems to Rev. William M. Runyan, a musician affiliated with the Moody Bible Institute and an editor at Hope Publishing Company. One particular poem, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” stood out to Runyan with such depth and spiritual warmth that he prayed earnestly to compose a melody worthy of its message. Writing from Baldwin, Kansas, that same year, he completed the tune, and it was first published in one of his privately circulated song pamphlets.

The hymn quickly gained popularity and found a home at the Moody Bible Institute, where it became a favorite of its then-president, Dr. Will Houghton. From there, it spread to evangelical churches across the United States. Renowned gospel singer George Beverly Shea later introduced the hymn to audiences in Great Britain during the 1954 Billy Graham Crusades, further cementing its global appeal. Its quiet strength, humble origin, and scriptural richness have since made it a timeless favorite for worshipers everywhere.

In addition to “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Thomas Chisholm also authored the hymn “Living for Jesus” (see 101 More Hymn Stories, No. 56), further showcasing his gift for expressing devotion, trust, and surrender through simple but powerful language.

“He leads us on by paths we did not know;
Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow,
Though oft we faint and falter on the way,
Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day;
Yet when the clouds are gone,
We know He leads us on.

He leads us on through all the unquiet years;
Past all our dreamland hopes, and doubts and fears,
He guides our steps, through all the tangled maze
Of losses, sorrows, and o’erclouded days;
We know His will is done;
And still He leads us on.”

— Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1760) (See 101 hymn stories No. 50)