Deeper and Deeper

“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” — Psalm 40:8 (KJV)

The beloved hymn “Deeper and Deeper” comes from the heart and hand of Oswald J. Smith, one of the most influential evangelical voices and missionary leaders of the twentieth century. For many decades, Smith was closely associated with the Peoples Church of Toronto, Canada, a congregation renowned for its fervent evangelism and remarkable missionary support. Under his leadership, the church became known for giving more than a quarter of a million dollars annually toward the support of over 300 missionaries. Later in his ministry, Dr. Smith served as the Minister of Missions, while his son, Paul Smith, assumed the pastoral role at the church.

Oswald J. Smith’s contribution to the Christian world extended well beyond the pulpit. He was a prolific writer and a passionate hymn writer, penning over 1,200 hymns and sacred poems. Some of his most recognized gospel songs include “God Understands,” “Joy in Serving Jesus,” “The Glory of His Presence,” “The Song of the Soul Set Free,” “The Savior Can Solve Every Problem,” and “Then Jesus Came.” Each of these pieces reflects his deep personal walk with God and his unwavering passion for spreading the Gospel.

In his autobiographical work The Story of My Hymns, Dr. Smith shares the remarkable origin of “Deeper and Deeper.” In 1911, while serving as a traveling secretary for the Pocket Testament League, an organization founded by Mrs. Charles M. Alexander, he arrived in Woodstock, Ontario, and was invited to preach at the city's largest Methodist church. As he walked the streets that Sunday morning, a melody began to form in his heart, accompanied by the words: “Into the heart of Jesus, deeper and deeper I go.” He later recalled the vivid emotions of that morning—the sunshine overhead, the youthful joy within, and the anticipation of preaching God’s Word. At the time, he was only twenty-one years old.

After the church service, Smith hurried back to his rented room and immediately wrote down the melody just as it had come to him. The tune, he noted, has remained unchanged ever since. However, the lyrics would take longer to complete. He began working on them in Belwood, Ontario, but it was not until 1914, three years later, while pastoring the First Presbyterian Church of South Chicago, that he finally finished the hymn at the age of twenty-four.

Writing “Deeper and Deeper” brought Dr. Smith tremendous personal satisfaction. He later reflected that the hymn never lost its freshness or its significance for him: “It was the child of my youth. I still love it and always will.” He also believed the hymn stood as a testament that God can reveal His deepest truths even to the young, for, in his words, “I doubt if I have ever written anything more profound since.” The hymn outlines a rich spiritual progression—the heart, the will, the cross, joy, and love—leading ultimately to a triumphant climax in the final stanza, a vision that, as Smith described, lifts the soul to “heights sublime.”

In another of his works, The Story of My Life, Dr. Smith candidly recounts the personal trials and heartaches he endured, particularly in the early years of his ministry. Out of these seasons of sorrow and testing came many of his most meaningful “deeper life” hymns. He emphasized the necessity of cultivating a personal, daily communion with God—a discipline he referred to as his “morning watch.” For over fifty years, he made it his practice to rise early and walk alone in prayer with the Lord. He described this sacred time as the wellspring of his spiritual strength:

“For half a century now I have walked the floor morning by morning with God. It was when I walked alone with God that I learned the lessons He would teach. I set aside a time and a place to meet Him, and I have never been disappointed.”

The heart of Oswald J. Smith’s ministry—whether through preaching, writing, or music—was centered on an intimate, abiding relationship with Christ. His hymn “Deeper and Deeper” remains a spiritual roadmap for believers who long to experience more of Christ’s fullness in their daily walk. Its deeply personal lyrics and soaring melody continue to lead many into the deeper life of faith, surrender, and divine joy.

As Smith once wrote in one of his verses:

“Alone, dear Lord, ah, yes! alone with Thee!
My aching heart at rest, my spirit free;
My sorrow gone, my burdens all forgotten,
When far away I soar alone with Thee.”

Indeed, this hymn and the life behind it reflect the Psalmist’s prayer: “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”