O God, Whose Will Is Life and Good

“O God, Whose Will Is Life and Good” is a thoughtful and prayerful hymn by Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley that centers on the goodness of God’s will and the blessing found in willing obedience. Written in the late nineteenth century, the hymn reflects a pastoral concern for aligning human desires with divine purpose, presenting God’s will not as harsh or restrictive, but as life giving, wise, and gracious.

The opening affirmation that God’s will is both life and good echoes the biblical teaching of Deuteronomy 30:19-20, where obedience to God is set before His people as the way of life and blessing. Rawnsley emphasizes that God’s commands flow from His goodness and love, and that true freedom is found not in self rule, but in joyful submission to God’s design.

The hymn also resonates strongly with Psalm 119:68, which declares that God is good and does good. Obedience, in this light, becomes an act of trust in God’s character. Rawnsley’s language encourages believers to seek God’s will with confidence, knowing that it leads toward spiritual wholeness rather than loss.

A prayerful dependence runs throughout the hymn. The singer asks God for strength to choose rightly and to live faithfully, reflecting the petition of Matthew 6:10, “Thy will be done.” God’s will is not merely acknowledged but actively sought and embraced as the pattern for daily living.

Romans 12:1-2 further illuminates the hymn’s message by calling believers to present themselves as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. Rawnsley presents obedience as an ongoing process of transformation, where desires are reshaped and the believer learns to discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect in God’s sight.

The life giving nature of God’s will also points to John 10:10, where Christ declares that He came so that His people might have life more abundantly. The hymn affirms that God’s purposes are never destructive toward His children, but always aimed at fullness of life, peace of conscience, and spiritual maturity.

“O God, Whose Will Is Life and Good” is well suited for services focused on dedication, guidance, and Christian obedience. Its enduring value lies in its gentle correction of misconceptions about God’s will, presenting it as a source of hope rather than fear. The hymn invites believers to trust the wisdom of God and to walk confidently in the path He sets before them, assured that His will is indeed life and good.