Just as I Am was written in 1835 by poet Charlotte Elliott. All her life she'd been plagued with illness and pain, and it left her bitter and unpleasant to be around.
She was 46 years old, and Dr. Cesar Malan of Geneva began to talk to her with her at a dinner party. He asked if she was really a Christian. She told him she didn't want to discuss religion. He left her alone--but his question stayed with her. Finally, she sought him out, telling him she wanted to be saved. She asked what she needed to do, and her told her to come to Him just as she was. She gave her heart to the Lord that evening.
It wasn't long after that that she penned Just as I Am, followed over the rest of her life by about 150 more hymns. William Bradbury set it to music. Billy Graham, who came to the Lord in 1934 after hearing the song, used it as his life-long crusade's theme song.
You've got to watch and listen to this version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYPQl93zro
Father God, how precious is Your grace--without it we'd all be lost. Those of us who know how deeply we failed You, rejected You, ignored You, denied You--we know how Charlotte Elliot felt. Thank You for forgiving us. Thank You for lifting us from the bottom of the pit. What more can we say?
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