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What will my next steps be? Where should I go from here? How can I be certain I'm heading in the right direction, to the right place, at the right time, or with the right person? Is this person truly the lifelong partner I've been seeking? Is the career path I've chosen the one where I'll truly thrive and find lasting fulfillment? Am I living now according to God's plan for me? These questions have been my companions throughout my life. Yet, without living and experiencing life over time, no one can offer definitive answers. Only God knows the full picture.
The response to these questions came in the form of a hymn I encountered when I first joined the United Methodist Church and attended the Annual Conference in July of 1991. The experience of hearing it played and sung in the midst of thousands of church delegates was unforgettable. As we gathered in the auditorium, the powerful sound of the hymn resonated deeply within me. Each lyric seemed to offer guidance to the questions that had long weighed on my heart.
As a young pastor approaching my thirties, facing uncertainties about the future and living abroad in the United States, "Hymn of Promise" became a source of comfort. It assured me that I could embrace the unknown with hope and faith, trusting in a future that only God could fully envision.
The composer, Natalie Sleeth, is remembered for her gift of crafting melodies and lyrics that conveyed complex theological concepts in a way that resonated with people of all ages. Despite its popularity as a funeral hymn, "Hymn of Promise" was born from Sleeth's contemplation of life, death, and the cyclical nature of existence. Shortly after writing this hymn, her husband Ronald E. Sleeth, was diagnosed with what turned out to be a terminal malignancy. Composed before a time of personal loss, it became a symbol of hope and renewal, sung even at her husband's funeral.
With its child-like simplicity and timeless message, "Hymn of Promise" remains one of the most cherished hymns of the United Methodist tradition. Written in the latter part of the twentieth century, its enduring appeal ensures that it will continue to be sung for generations to come. "Like the theologian she was, Natalie Sleeth moved on to worship: songs rising from silence, words seeking melodies, darkness becoming light, hope becoming evident in future days.” (Composer R. G. Huff)
Pastor Seok-Hwan
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