Just When I Need Him

Just when I need Him, Jesus is near, Just when I falter, just when I fear;
Ready to help me, ready to cheer, Just when I need Him most.

Chorus
Just when I need Him most, Just when I need Him most,
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer, Just when I need Him most.

Just when I need Him, Jesus is true, Never forsaking, all the way through;
Giving for burdens pleasures anew, Just when I need Him most.

Just when I need Him, Jesus is strong, Bearing my burdens all the day long;
For all my sorrow giving a song, Just when I need Him most.

Just when I need Him, He is my all, Answering when upon Him I call;
Tenderly watching lest I should fall, Just when I need Him most.

This is another hymn, that I regret to say, I wasn’t familiar with.  My pastor quoted the chorus recently during a Weds night Bible study, and since he stumped me, I thought I would find the words to the entire hymn, and comment on them.  There are two prevailing themes that I get from this particular hymn that I wanted to comment on – Timing and Exchange:

Timing – Over and over in this hymn, the author repeats the phrase “just when I need Him most” with emphasis on the word “just.”   It reminds me of a business concept that some of you may be familiar with.  It is called “JIT” which stands for “Just In Time.”  Companies that make things don’t want to build big warehouses to store their raw materials or their finished goods, so they implement a process called “Just in Time.”  The thought behind this business strategy is that a supplier sends their product in only when the company needs it – just in time.  Never early because it is too costly to just sit and not be used.  Never late because the finished goods can’t get made without it.  The raw materials have to be there right on time.  Isn’t that the way God is?  He doesn’t give us provision today for tomorrow’s needs – “Give us this day, our daily bread.”  He also doesn’t show up late – Psalm 37:25 says “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”  He is there when we need Him – right on time.

Exchange – In a couple of different places in this hymn, the author refers to giving something to the Lord, and then talkes about what he gets in exchange for it.  Giving burdens in exchange for pleasures.  Giving all his sorrow in exchange for a song.  Isn’t that how God works though?  God takes our brokenness, our problems, and our messed up lives, and by the transforming power of His spirit and by His grace, we get completeness, peace, and lives filled with purpose.  What an amazing exchange!  I am reminded of what the Psalmist said in Psalm 30:11 which reads “You turned my wailing into dancing;  you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy…” 

Some of you already know that I am a fan of the music from the 1970’s and 1980’s.  I can recite many of the lyrics of songs from that era because I spent many hours working at Red Lobster listening to the background music when I was in high school and in college.  There is a song from that era that I was reminded of when reading the words of this hymn.  The famous line from that song by Randy Vanwarmer goes “But yooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuu left me…. just when I needed you most.”  The song is about a breakup between a boyfriend and girlfriend.  Although the words are sad, they can be true in many human relationships.  People will bail on you at the moment in time when you need them the most – the time when your circumstances are the most difficult.

I am encouraged, however, by the words and the truth of this hymn because Jesus is there just when I need Him most.  He is the One that “sticketh closer than a brother.”  He is the One who promised to never leave us or forsake us.  He is the One that promised that He would be with us always, even until the end of the age.  During difficult times when you feel like singing that song from the 70’s, I have one word for you – “Don’t!”  Instead, find an encouraging passage in Scripture about God’s care and concern for His people, or about God showing up right on time.  Or, pick up an old hymnal and sing a song like “God will take care of you” or “God leads us along.”  Let the Scripture, and the words to these great hymns, remind you that there is One who is there when you need Him – just when you need Him most.