in joy or pain

"In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee; 
for Thou wilt answer me. " ~Psalm 86:7

Annie Sherwood Hawks was born in Hoosick, New York, on May 28, 1835. At a very early age, she displayed a gift for writing verse and by the age of fourteen, was contributing poetry regularly to various newspapers...In 1859, Annie married Charles Hawks, and three children were born into their home. For much of her life she lived in Brooklyn, New York, and was a member of the Hanson Place Baptist Church, where for eight years Dr. Robert Lowry, himself a prominent, gospel poet and musician, was her pastor. Annie left the following account regarding the writing of the hymn, I Need Thee Every Hour:

"One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with regular household tasks during a bright June morning in 1872. Suddenly I became filled with the sense of nearness to the Master, and I began to wonder how anyone could ever live without Him, either in joy or pain. Then, the words were ushered into my mind and these thoughts took full possession of me, "I need Thee every hour..."

Sixteen years after writing her hymn text, Mrs. Hawks experienced the death of her husband, which, she has written, "cast a shadow of great loss over my life." She left this account regarding the spiritual help she received from her own hymn during this very difficult time:

"I did not understand at first why this hymn had touched the great throbbing heart of humanity. It was not until long years after, when the shadow fell over my way, the shadow of a great loss, that I understood something of the comforting power in the words, which I had been permitted to give out to others in my hour of sweet serenity and peace."

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
Lyrics, Annie S. Hawks
Music, Dr. Robert Lowry

I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Ev'ry hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior;
I come to Thee.

I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow'r
When Thou art nigh.

I need Thee ev'ry hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly, and abide,
Or life is vain.

I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.


I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Ev'ry hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior;
I come to Thee.


Taken from the book 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth Osbeck