Jesus loves me; this I know 

For the Bible tells me so, 

Little ones to Him belong 

They are weak, but He is strong. 

Since 1860, children have echoed the simple message in churches across America and worldwide. Perhaps you’ve taught children to sing it in your host country’s language. 

Written by Anna Bartlett Warner, the song first appeared as a poem in a novel written by her sister, Susan Warner. In 1862, Dr. William Batchelder Bradbury added the melody and chorus. Thomas Warner, uncle to the two unmarried sisters, served as a Chaplain at West Point. Anna and Susan held Sunday afternoon Bible classes for generations of cadets who became known for singing “Jesus Loves Me” while on military duty. They are the only two civilian women buried in the U.S. Military Academy cemetery, an honor only God could have arranged. 

Instead of hiding and pretending, let’s sing out the words we understand all too well as global workers. I am weak, but He is strong! Vulnerability involves acknowledging our humanity and serving Christ despite our weakness. My heart resonates with the words of Paul in his first letter to the church in Corinth. It’s not wrong to minister out of fear and weakness. 

“And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:3-4 

Pastor Chuck Swindoll once asked his friend Jim Peterson about the secret to twenty years of successful ministry with the Navigators in São Paulo, Brazil. 

“How do you do it, Jim?” I asked him, “Tell me the secret of ministering to people.” I expected him to say, “Always set the pace,” or, “Be strong no matter what,” or, “Model the truth, and stand against the adversary as he attacks you.” I got none of that. Jim just smiled in his inimitable, casual way and answered, “Chuck, let people see the cracks in your life, and you’ll be able to minister to them.” 

May we let others see the cracks and honor the God who chooses to use us despite our imperfections and fears.