My God, my Father, while I stray

My God, My Father, While I Stray” was written by Charlotte Elliott, best known as the author of “Just As I Am.” This hymn is a tender prayer of surrender and trust in God’s providence. Written in 1834, it reflects Elliott’s deep personal faith, shaped by years of chronic illness and suffering.

The text expresses a willingness to leave every circumstance in the hands of the Father. The opening line sets the tone: “My God, my Father, while I stray far from my home on life’s rough way, O teach me from my heart to say, Thy will be done.” It is a hymn of quiet resignation, asking God to teach His children to rest in His wisdom whether in joy or sorrow, prosperity or trial.

The hymn continues with reflections on both gladness and grief, health and weakness, life and death, always returning to the refrain of submission: “Thy will be done.” This theme echoes the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) and the trust expressed in Psalm 31:15, “My times are in thy hand.”

Because of its devotional character, the hymn has often been sung at funerals, times of suffering, or moments when believers need to be reminded of God’s sovereign care. Its meditative spirit and scriptural depth make it a lasting contribution to Christian hymnody.