Christian

Just As I Am, I Come

Cindy Dawson

Encouragement for Thursday, 7/16/26

She thought she was useless to God. She wrote the hymn that brought millions to Him.

Charlotte Elliott was born in 1789 in England and lived much of her adult life as an invalid, confined largely to her bed by chronic illness. She wrestled openly with feeling she had no purpose — that her sickness made her a spiritual burden rather than a contributor.

In 1834, after a conversation with a Swiss minister who told her that coming to God required nothing but coming “just as you are,” something shifted. She wrote it down as a hymn — not as a sermon, but as a confession of her own helplessness turned into an invitation for anyone else who felt the same.

“Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me.”

The hymn made no demands of moral cleanup before approaching God. That was the radical part. Worship culture at the time often emphasized preparation, worthiness, examination. Elliott’s hymn said: come now, broken, as you actually are.

A century later, evangelist Billy Graham adopted “Just As I Am” as the closing hymn for his crusades — sung softly while thousands walked forward to commit their lives to Christ. He used it at nearly every altar call across six decades of ministry, reaching tens of millions of people.

A woman too sick to leave her bed wrote the invitation that moved more people forward than almost any preacher alive.

Share this with someone who feels too broken to start over.

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Source: #JustAsIAm#CharlotteElliott#BillyGraham#ChurchHistory

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16 thoughts on “Just As I Am, I Come”

  3. Excellent back story Cindy which gives extra meaning to the hymn. It is a most beautiful hymn, which brings back memories of Billy Graham at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. Thank you! God bless you today my friend and sister 🙏

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    1. Alan, It is most likely that “Just As I Am” was being sung when I asked Jesus to save me. I was watching a Billy Graham crusade on TV in 1957. That makes this woman’s story even more special to me. God bless you richly, my friend and brother!🙏

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  6. What a wonderful example of the tremendous power of God! He can use each of us, broken as we are, to encourage others on this journey of faith. Thanks for reminding us about Charlotte Elliott!

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