Thomas Salmon (1800-1854) visited a shop owned and operated by William Walford in a small English village one afternoon in 1842. Since William was blind and lived alone, he relied on his prodigious memory to keep Scripture on instant recall and composed poems in his head as an aid to prayer. As their conversation turned to prayer, William shared a few verses of a poem he had composed in his mind on prayer. Thomas was captivated by his repeated references to “sweet hour” and jotted the words down on paper. Thomas emigrated to America three years later and shared the poem with the editor of the New York Observer. The poem was published in an 1845 newspaper, and it caught on quickly. William Bradbury, who wrote tunes for hymns like “Jesus Loves Me,” “Just as I Am” and “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us” added music to the poem and the song, “Sweet Hour of Prayer” took off. Stanza 1 invites us to make “all our wishes and desires known,” giving specific mention to “seasons of distress and grief.” Stanza 2 speaks of “strong desires for thy return,” an allusion to Jesus’ second coming. Stanza 3 likens prayers as carried on wings into God’s presence. The line, “I’ll cast on him my every care” recalls Peter’s words, “Cast all your cares on him who cares for you” (1 Peter 5.7). Most hymnals leave off the fourth verse, which is regrettable, since it speaks of Moses on Mount Pisgah at his life’s end, seeing the Promised Land in the distance (Deut. 34.1).
William Walford had no way of knowing that his poem would be cherished by so many Christians after him. Neither did Thomas Salmon who died before the poem became a popular hymn. We’ll never know what impact our words and actions will have on future generations. As you reflect on this hymn, take its counsel to heart and bring your distress, desires and cares to God in prayer: