Charles Wesley. [Confidence.] Composed by Charles Wesley, this hymn of bold faith and reliance on God is founded upon the Old Testament passage in Habakkuk 3:17-19 ("Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines... yet I will rejoice in the Lord"). It was first published in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1742) in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, and was later included in the Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley (1868-1872, volume II, page 198). Although the hymn was not incorporated into the official Wesleyan Hymn Book until the revised edition of 1875, it enjoyed widespread popularity in other denominations for over a century prior to that inclusion. Its broad adoption among Church of England and Nonconformist congregations began in 1760 when Martin Madan selected it for his Psalms and Hymns. The hymn powerfully articulates triumph over doubt and temporal trials through steadfast trust in divine providence.
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