In the Hour of Trial

“In the Hour of Trial” was written in 1834 by James Montgomery, one of the most influential English hymn writers of the nineteenth century. Montgomery, a Moravian by heritage and a man deeply committed to the power of sacred poetry, composed this hymn as a prayer of dependence upon Christ during seasons of temptation, suffering, and testing. The hymn gives voice to the believer’s desire for the intercession of Christ when human strength falters and trials threaten to overwhelm the soul.

The text opens with the plea, “In the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me,” reflecting a recognition of personal weakness and the absolute necessity of the Savior’s advocacy. Montgomery wrote in a way that aligns closely with Christ’s command to His disciples in Gethsemane to watch and pray so as not to enter into temptation. Each stanza functions as a prayer that anticipates the difficulties of life: the lures of sin, the burdens of sorrow, and the moment of death itself. The repeated emphasis on Christ as the intercessor reminds the believer that victory is found not in self-reliance but in the mediating work of the Savior, who is both High Priest and Friend.

This hymn has long been cherished as a personal prayer, often sung during times of reflection, communion services, or in seasons of hardship. Its meditative quality helps believers to fix their minds upon Christ and to remember that trials, though painful, can refine the soul and draw it closer to God. The words encourage Christians not to seek relief by compromising with sin or avoiding the cross but to look to Jesus who sustains and delivers. Montgomery’s poetry captures both the frailty of the human condition and the sufficiency of divine grace, making this hymn a timeless expression of Christian faith in adversity.