My Times Are in Thy Hand

Representative Text

1 My times are in Your hand;
my God, I wish them there!
My life, my friends, my soul, I leave
entirely to Your care.

2 My times are in Your hand
whatever they may be,
pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
as You know best for me.

3 My times are in Your hand;
why should I doubt or fear?
My Father's hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.

4 My times are in Your hand:
Jesus, the Crucified;
those hands my cruel sins had pierced
are now my guard and guide.

5 My times are in Your hand;
such faith You give to me
that after death, at Your right hand
I shall for ever be.

Source: The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #516

Author: William Freeman Lloyd

Lloyd, William Freeman, was born at Uley, Gloucestershire, Dec. 22, 1791. As he grew up he took great interest in Sunday school work, and was engaged in teaching both at Oxford and at London. In 1810 he was appointed one of the Secretaries of the Sunday School Union. He also became connected with the Religious Tract Society in 1816. Miller (to whom we are indebted for these details) says in his Singers and Songs of the Church, 1869, p. 418:— "He commenced the Sunday School Teacher's Magazine, conducted for years the Child's Companion and the Weekly Visitor, and suggested the preparation of a large number of books for children and adults. His own literary productions were various, including several useful books for Sunday School teachers… Go to person page >

Notes

Our times are in Thy hand, Father, we wish them there. W. F. Lloyd. [Resignation.] The opening stanza of this hymn is:--

”Our times are in Thy hand,
Father, we wish them there;
Our life, our soul, our all, we leave
Entirely to Thy care.”

This hymn appeared in Hymns for the Poor of the Flock, 1841, No. 257, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, each stanza opening with the same first line. This was repeated in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, London, D. Walther, 1842, Pt. i., No. 64; and again in A few Hymns and Some Spiritual Songs selected 1856 for the Little Flock, No. 209. In Spurgeon’s Our Own Hymn Book, 1866, the text is slightly altered. Spurgeon’s date, “1835” we can not authenticate.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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My times are in Thy hand, p. 681, i. 3. This hymn first appeared in vol. i. of The Tract Magazine (R.T.S.), March, 1824, p. 32, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, entitled "My times are in Thy hand. Psalm xxxi. 15," and signed "Spes." Mr Lloyd, the author, was at that time an official of the R.T.S. The original text reads as in the The Church Hymnary (Scottish), 1898, No. 288, with st. iv., 11. 3-4, "Those hands," &c, " Are now," &c, to which must be added st. v., which is omitted in almost every collection:—
"My times are in Thy hand,
Jesus, my Advocate;
Nor shall Thine hand be stretch'd in vain
For me to supplicate."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 12 of 12)

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The Cyber Hymnal #4383

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The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #516

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Include 287 pre-1979 instances
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