Recentering Our Lives and Marriage

Few hymns have endured across generations, cultures, and denominations like How Great Thou Art. Its sweeping sense of wonder, humility, and devotion continues to resonate deeply with believers around the world. Whether sung in a small country church or a packed auditorium, the hymn has a unique ability to quiet the soul and redirect our attention to God’s majesty.

But beyond its powerful melody, the lyrics carry truths that profoundly shape both our personal spiritual lives and the sacred bond of marriage.

The hymn we know today traces its origins back to the late 19th century. The original poem was written by Carl Boberg, a Swedish pastor, after he experienced a sudden thunderstorm followed by a calm, radiant sky. That dramatic display of nature stirred in him a deep awareness of God’s power and beauty, inspiring the poem “O Store Gud” (“O Great God”).

Years later, English missionary Stuart K. Hine encountered the hymn and contributed the English translation and additional verses, helping introduce it to the wider world. Over time, How Great Thou Art became one of the most beloved hymns in Christian worship.

The Lyrics and the Individual Soul

One of the hymn’s most striking features is its movement from observation to personal response.

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made…”

The opening lines invite us into reflection. They slow us down. In a world saturated with noise, anxiety, and self-focus, these words gently bring us back to focus. We are part of a creation crafted by a sovereign God. It brings us back to humility, gratitude, and assurance in Christ. 

“And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in…”

Here, the hymn shifts from creation to redemption. God is not only powerful — He is sacrificially loving. We are humbled by the love of God and His sacrifice through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

What This Means for Your Marriage

Here is an exercise we could use in our marriage. When our marriage relationship needs realigning to place Christ in the center, come together, hold hands, and belt this song out. As a couple, reset your perspective to recognize that God is in control of all things. God is in control of our wins and our struggles. 

As you consider the awe of God and His awesome wonder, also consider the awe and the wonder of the spouse He has given you. Over time, familiarity can dull appreciation — not only of God but also of one another. The hymn’s language of awe serves as a reminder that wonder is a discipline. Just as we intentionally notice God’s works, we can intentionally notice our spouse’s gifts, sacrifices, and beauty.

Every marriage encounters seasons of strain — stress, disappointment, fatigue, and misunderstanding. In such moments, it is easy for problems to feel overwhelming. The hymn’s grand vision of God restores our perspective and calls us back to Him.

If God governs creation and redemption, He is surely present within our struggles. The lyrics cultivate trust that no challenge is outside His care.

Takeaway 

This hymn is a reminder that, as individuals and as a couple:

• We are not the authors of our existence

• Love is rooted in divine grace

• God is great.

• God is good.

• God is worthy of our wonder.

Lyrics

Verse 1

O Lord my God

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works

Thy hands have made,

I see the stars,

I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy pow'r throughout

The universe displayed!

Chorus

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

Verse 2

When thru the woods

And forest glades I wander

And hear the birds

Sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down

From lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook

And feel the gentle breeze,

Chorus

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

Verse 3

And when I think

That God, His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die,

I scarce can take it in -

That on the cross,

My burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died

To take away my sin!

Chorus

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

Verse 4

When Christ shall come

With shout of acclamation

And take me home,

What joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow

In humble adoration

And there proclaim,

My God, how great Thou art!

Chorus

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee;

How great Thou art,

How great Thou art!