Austin's Blog

Two years ago I was leading a Bible study over zoom with some Indonesian and Timorese brothers and sisters on James 1:2-4 which says, “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

To highlight the truths of this passage, I shared A.M. Overton’s beloved hymn “He Maketh No Mistake” The lyrics read:

My Father’s way may twist and turn,

My heart may throb and ache,

But in my soul I’m glad I know,

He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,

My hopes may fade away,

But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead

For He doth know the way.

Though night be dark and it may seem

That day will never break;

I’ll pin my faith, my all in Him,

He maketh no mistake.

There’s so much now I cannot see,

My eyesight’s far too dim;

But come what may, I’ll simply trust

And leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift

And plain it all He’ll make,

Through all the way, though dark to me,

He made not one mistake.

I had no idea until YESTERDAY that the hymn was written after the minister lost his wife and child during delivery. Of course such a beautiful piece of art was borne out of such deep suffering. The story of the hymn is below:

“The hymn’s lyrics were written by A.M. Overton, a pastor and preacher who served in Mississippi during the early 20th century. Overton was known as a man of deep faith and commitment to God. The story of the hymn emerged from a profound moment of personal grief in his life.

In 1932, while Overton was serving as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Baldwyn, Mississippi, his wife went into labor with their fourth child. Tragically, both his wife and the baby died during childbirth. This heartbreaking loss deeply affected Overton, yet he continued to hold firmly to his faith in God.

During his wife’s funeral, Overton reportedly sat quietly with a pen in hand. As the service progressed, he wrote the words to what would become the hymn “He Maketh No Mistake” on a slip of paper. The poem expressed his unwavering trust in God’s plan, even when life’s circumstances seemed incomprehensible.

The lyrics reflect a deep belief that God’s purposes are always good and perfect, even when we don’t understand them. The refrain emphasizes the idea that while life may seem filled with sorrow and uncertainty, God’s ways are without error:

“For He maketh no mistake.”