Edger Page Stites Grave

Hymn History: Trusting Jesus

Author: Edgar Page Stites

“Like many hymn writers of his time, Stites had no grand ambition to gain fame. He wrote his poetry as a natural outflow of his personal devotion to Christ and his desire to encourage others in their walk of faith.”
(Hymnallibrary.org)

Edgar Page Stites (1836–1921) stands among the quieter yet deeply influential figures of nineteenth-century American hymnody. Though not as widely recognized as some of his contemporaries, his work left an enduring imprint on evangelical worship, especially through the beloved hymn “Trusting Jesus.” His life reflects the earnest faith, patriotic spirit, and practical piety that characterized much of American Protestantism in his era.

Stites was born on March 18, 1836, in Cape May, New Jersey. Raised in a devout Christian home, he developed an early love for Scripture and sacred song. From his youth, he displayed a literary bent and a sincere religious spirit. These qualities would later combine in his hymn writing, which is marked by simplicity, clarity, and a focus on personal trust in Christ.

As a young man, Stites entered military service during the American Civil War. He served the Union cause with dedication, and his experiences during that turbulent time strengthened his reliance on faith. Like many Christian soldiers of the period, he saw in the trials of war a call to deeper spiritual conviction. The discipline and resolve shaped in those years would remain evident throughout his life.

After the war, Stites eventually made his home in Richmond, where he became active in Christian work. Though he pursued secular employment to support himself, his chief passion lay in religious service. He was closely associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination known for its emphasis on heartfelt religion and practical holiness. Within that setting, Stites devoted himself to Sunday school work, writing, and encouraging congregational singing.

His most enduring contribution came through the hymn “Trusting Jesus.” The text was born out of a simple yet profound reflection on the Christian life. Stites sought to express the steady, childlike confidence that believers are called to maintain in their Savior—not merely in moments of crisis, but in the ordinary routines of daily living. The hymn opens with the well-known lines:

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

These words capture the essence of Stites’s theology: faith not as dramatic display, but as consistent reliance. The hymn’s enduring appeal lies in its accessibility. It does not strain for poetic grandeur; instead, it speaks plainly and directly, offering comfort and encouragement to ordinary Christians.

The musical setting most commonly associated with the text was composed by Ira D. Sankey, the famed gospel singer and collaborator of Dwight L. Moody. Sankey’s tune complemented Stites’s words with a warm, memorable melody that made the hymn suitable for revival meetings and congregational worship alike. Through the evangelistic campaigns of Moody and Sankey, “Trusting Jesus” spread widely across the United States and beyond, securing its place in numerous hymnals.

Stites also wrote other hymns and poems, though none achieved the same prominence. His writings consistently emphasized personal devotion, steadfast faith, and submission to God’s will. He did not seek literary fame. Rather, his aim was to strengthen believers and to point hearts toward Christ.

In his later years, Stites continued to serve quietly in church and community. He lived to see profound changes in American society, from the aftermath of civil war through the dawn of the twentieth century. Yet the spiritual themes that shaped his youth remained unchanged in his old age: trust, perseverance, and humble service.

Edgar Page Stites passed away on March 9, 1921, just days short of his eighty-fifth birthday. Though time has obscured much of his biography, his hymn endures. In many congregations, particularly those that value traditional gospel song, “Trusting Jesus” still finds a place in worship. Its message remains as relevant as when first written: the Christian life is sustained not by dramatic achievements, but by steady faith.

Stites’s legacy is therefore not measured in institutional accomplishments or public acclaim, but in the quiet strengthening of countless believers. His hymn reminds worshipers that faith need not be complicated. In an age often drawn to novelty and spectacle, his words call Christians back to a simpler foundation—trust in Christ, day by day.

Such a legacy may seem modest, yet it is precisely this kind of faithfulness that has sustained the church through generations. Edgar Page Stites contributed a song that has helped believers articulate their reliance on God in both calm and storm. For that reason, his name continues to be honored wherever humble, steadfast trust is cherished.

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Image Source/Credit (in order):

• Edgar Page Stites. www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/s/t/i/t/stites_ep.htm.