The author of this widely popular hymn is William Williams (1717-1791), born in Carmarthenshire, Wales, to John and Dorothy Williams. According to Welsh hymn scholar Alan Luff, Williams grew up as an Independent and later a Calvinist, but had no aspirations to be a minister. In fact, he intended to be a doctor, attending school at the Dissenting Academy of LLwyn-llwyd, near Talgarth, Wales. It was near Talgarth that he first encountered the preaching of Howell Harris, which lead to his conversion experience. Shortly after, he abandoned his Independent upbringing and desire to be a doctor to pursue ordination in the Established Church.
In 1744, after being accused of several misdemeanors against the Church of England, Williams devoted himself to Methodism. The Welsh text was written soon after this in 1745. While it is still a mystery as to how or why Williams began composing hymn-texts in his native tongue, United Methodist Hymnal editor Dr. Carlton Young states that he became known as the most famous hymn writer of Welsh Methodism. Traces of the hardship Williams experienced as a traveling minister can be found throughout “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.”
It was in the midst of this spiritual darkness and fruitless religion, God’s great reviving work began to advance. Thundering voices for truth begin arising all over the world. The Wesleys, George Whitefield, and the Moravians Count Von Zinzendorf are among the most notable. It is during this time, in Wales, God was stirring the heart of a young school teacher named Howell Harris.
At age 21, Harris became passionate about seeing his generation transformed by the gospel of Christ. Many within the Established Church implored him to be more moderate, but he would not hear them. He became one of the greatest voices for truth for his nation at that time.
Early on in the ministry, he came into contact with a young man by the name of William Williams. Williams was wonderfully converted at the age of 20. He immediately became passionate about the Lord Jesus. A staunch Calvinist Methodist, he began traveling by horseback all across Wales singing, preaching, and strengthening believers. He quickly rose to become one of the leaders in that movement and more opportunities arose for him to minister.
Williams traversed over 100,000 miles in his ministry. We easily can imagine the many times he had to stop to ask for guidance and direction from others. As he traveled on horseback for 43 years, no doubt he came across many difficulties and hardships. Thankfully, his deep faith in God is what brought him to write the mighty prayer/hymn that we know and love today. Based heavily upon God’s guidance to the children of Israel, William’s words capture the cry of a searching heart.
