Lean Hard by Octavius Winslow
Published April 4, 2011 | 
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee” (Psalm 55:22).
Child of My love, lean hard,
And let Me feel the pressure of thy care;
I know thy burden, child, I shaped it;
Poised it in My own hand, made no proportion in its weight to thine unaided strength;
For even as I laid it on, I said
I shall be near, and while he leans on Me,
This burden shall be Mine, not his;
So shall I keep My child within the circling arms of My own love.
Here lay it down, nor fear to impose it on a shoulder which upholds the government of worlds.
Yet closer come; thou art not near enough;
I would embrace thy care so I might feel My child reposing on My breast.
Thou lovest Me? I know it. Doubt not then;
But, loving Me, Lean Hard.”
“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7)
4 Responses to Lean Hard by Octavius Winslow
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I love this poem (Lean Hard) and I would like to know if you can help me with some information about its author, for I have to make a presentation and explanation of a poem at school and speak a bit about its author, but I don't find anything about it on the Internet. If you know something about it, please, help me as soon as you can. May God bless you richly!
This poem was written by Octavius Winslow, a baptist pastor in the 1800's, living in New York and in England. It appears that Mary Prentiss Smith included it in the book, Streams in the Desert, without giving the author's name. Many listings on the internet attribute it to her. It is sad to continue this error.
I fixed it thanks for letting me know. http://gracegems.org/Winslows/Christ_sympathy.htm
I've always thought the author was unknown, also. Nice to know the truth and give him the credit. I've loved this poem for decades, shared it, leaned into its truth, and am so happy to have it so acccessible! Thank you.