Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871) led a comfortable life with her family in Clapham, England. She was carefree and lighthearted. Her days were occupied with drawing people’s portraits and writing funny poems. It all came crashing down when she became seriously ill shortly after her thirtieth birthday. She spent the balance of her life dealing with chronic pain and fatigue. In the language of the Victorian era, she was an “invalid.”
In 1834, she went to live with brother Henry, a Church of England pastor who was leading a campaign to raise money to build a school for daughters of poor clergy. Members of Henry’s church were busy on the eve of a big fundraising bazaar–minus Charlotte, who stayed behind. She went to bed that evening feeling useless. Her discouragement didn’t stop there. By the middle of the night, she was questioning her existence and sinking deeper into despondency.
On the day of the bazaar, with thoughts from the previous evening pressing down on her, she pulled herself together to compose “the grand certainties of her faith.” When she wrote, “I am accepted in the Beloved, just as I am,” the words began to flow. A poem quickly took shape which she shared with her sister-in-law. It was later set to music and “Just as I Am” became Billy Graham’s signature hymn during his crusades.
Reflecting on his sister’s hymn, Henry wrote, “In the course of a long ministry I hope I have been permitted to see some fruit of my labor, but I find more has been done by a simple hymn of my sister’s.” When the hymn was first published, it was accompanied by Jesus’ words, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6.37). Four stanzas are reproduced here, inviting us to come to Jesus, just as we are: