O It Is Wonderful

“O It Is Wonderful” by Charles H. Gabriel is a moving hymn of awe and gratitude that captures the believer’s amazement at the depth of God’s redeeming love. Written around 1900, it reflects Gabriel’s characteristic blend of heartfelt devotion and simple, singable melody that invites congregations to meditate on the grace of God revealed through Jesus Christ. Like many of Gabriel’s works, this hymn speaks to both the heart and mind, helping believers express wonder at salvation’s personal meaning.

The hymn begins by contemplating the sinner’s condition and the Savior’s compassion. The singer marvels that Christ, the spotless Son of God, would leave His heavenly glory to bear the sins of humankind. This theme echoes the heart of Romans 5:8, which proclaims that God demonstrated His love through the sacrifice of His Son even when humanity was undeserving. The phrase “O it is wonderful” becomes a repeated expression of astonishment, as if language itself cannot fully contain the gratitude one feels when confronted by the reality of divine mercy.

Gabriel had a remarkable gift for writing songs that combined theological truth with emotional resonance. In “O It Is Wonderful,” he captures the paradox of grace: the holy God reaching down to save unworthy sinners. The hymn is not abstract or formal but deeply personal, as the singer testifies, “That He should care for me, enough to die for me.” This intimacy makes the song both a confession of faith and a declaration of praise.

Musically, the hymn follows Gabriel’s familiar style—warm, lyrical, and uplifting. The melody rises gently through each verse, mirroring the growing realization of God’s love, and then resolves peacefully in the chorus. It invites the listener to reflect, rejoice, and rest in the assurance of salvation. The refrain, “O it is wonderful, wonderful to me,” becomes both worship and witness, a proclamation of what God has done in the individual heart.

Gabriel, who wrote over seven thousand hymns, including “Send the Light” and “I Stand Amazed in the Presence,” often emphasized the theme of personal relationship with Christ. For him, salvation was not merely a doctrine but a living experience of grace that should produce joy and reverence. This hymn perfectly reflects that conviction, leading believers to see redemption not only as a historical act but as a personal reality.

The language of “O It Is Wonderful” is marked by simplicity and sincerity, qualities that made it beloved among church congregations, revival meetings, and Sunday schools. Its beauty lies in its ability to make profound truth accessible to every heart. It does not aim to impress but to inspire, guiding the singer into worship through wonder.

Spiritually, the hymn calls believers to continual gratitude. It reminds us that the Christian life begins and is sustained by amazement at God’s love. When the soul ceases to be amazed, it risks growing cold, but this song rekindles that sense of marvel every time it is sung. The words encourage reflection on the cross, the cost of redemption, and the boundless compassion of the Savior who calls us His own.

“O It Is Wonderful” continues to resonate because it expresses the timeless response of the redeemed soul, astonishment at grace. To every believer who has known forgiveness and fellowship with Christ, the words remain as true today as they were when first penned: “O it is wonderful that He should care for me, enough to die for me! O it is wonderful, wonderful to me.”