The original version of this hymn was written by John Fawcett in 1782. An orphan at the age of twelve, he was converted by the preaching of George Whitefield at the age of sixteen and began preaching soon thereafter. In 1765 Fawcett was called to a small, poor, Baptist country church in Wainsgate, Yorkshire. Seven years later he received a call from the large and influential Carter’s Lane Church in London, England. The day of departure came, and his family’s belongings were loaded on carts, but the distraught congregation begged him to stay; Fawcett continued to serve in Wainsgate and in the nearby village of Hebden Bridge for the remainder of his active ministry¹. Below includes a refrain and verse added by Connie Dever of Capitol Hill Baptist Church.

Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near,
Thy Saviour’s gracious promise hear;
His faithful word declares to thee,
That as thy day thy strength shall be.

Let not thy heart despond, and say,
“How shall I stand the trying day?”
He has engaged by firm decree,
That as thy day thy strength shall be.

Refrain
So, sing with joy, afflicted one;
The battle’s fierce, but the victory’s won!
God shall supply all that you need;
Yes, as your days your strength shall be.

Thy faith is weak, thy foes are strong,
And if the conflict should be long,
Thy Lord will make the tempter flee,
For as thy day thy strength shall be.

Should persecution rage and flame,
Still trust in thy Redeemer’s name;
In fiery trials thou shalt see
That as thy day thy strength shall be

Added Verse:
When called to bear your weighty cross
Or sore affliction, pain, or loss,
Or deep distress or poverty,
Still as your days your strength shall be.

¹hymnary.org/text/afflicted_saint_to_christ_draw_near