Adelaide Addison Pol­lard be­lieved God want­ed her in Af­ri­ca as a mis­sion­a­ry.  She was all ready to embark on her journey, but was un­a­ble to raise funds to go and was forced to cancel the trip. Burdened and disappointed, she at­tend­ed a pray­er meet­ing, where she heard an el­der­ly wo­man pray, “It’s all right, Lord. It does­n’t mat­ter what You bring in­to our lives, just have Your own way with us.”  God used that prayer to encourage her, lift her burden and give her hope.  She went home and penned the words to this hymn.  And in God’s timing, she did indeed end up in Africa, just where she believed He had called her to go.

I know I’ve sung this hymn many times over the course of my life, but when I read it just now – as rich text instead of just as the closing hymn to a service, I was reminded again of my own need to surrender to God’s way and God’s timing, “while I am waiting, yielded and still”.

Have Thine Own Way, Lord!

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

Adelaide A. Pollard, 1907