Just As I Am – J.E. Martin

Just As I Am (click here for sheet music pdf)

"Without question, this hymn has touched more hearts and influenced more people for Christ than any other song ever written. The text was born within the soul of an invalid woman who wrote these words out of intense feelings of uselessness and despair.

"Charlotte Elliott was born in Clapham, England, on March 18, 1789. As a young person, she lived a carefree life, gaining popularity as a portrait artist and writer of humorous verse. By the time she was thirty, however, her health began to fail rapidly, and soon she became a bedridden invalid for the remaining years of her life. With her failing health came great feelings of despondency.

"In 1822, a noted Swiss evangelist, Dr. Caesar Malan, visited the Elliott home in Brighton, England. His visit proved to be a turning point in Charlotte’s life. In counselling Miss Elliott about her spiritual and emotional problems, Dr. Malan impressed upon her this truth, 'You must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.'

"Throughout the remainder of her life, Miss Elliott celebrated every year the day on which her Swiss friend had led her to a personal relationship with Christ, for she considered it to be her spiritual birthday. Although she did not write her text for this hymn until 1836, fourteen years after her conversion experience, it is apparent that she never forgot the words of her friend, for they formed the very essence of this hymn."

**(The above quoted excerpt is from 101 Hymn Stories: The Inspiring True Stories Behind 101 Favorite Hymns © 1982 (146) by Kenneth W. Osbeck)**