You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

Click here to donate to Hymnary.org I have already donated. Please don't show this to me again

God Make My Life a Little Light

God make my life a little light Within the world to glow

Author: Matilda Edwards (1873)
Published in 112 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ

Rhapsody on English Hymntunes (Organ Due…

Representative Text

1 God make my life a little light
Within the world to glow;
A little flame that burneth bright
Wherever I may go.

2 God make my life a little flower
That giveth joy to all,
Content to bloom in native bower
Although the place be small.

3 God make my life a little song
That comforteth the sad,
That helpeth others to be strong,
And makes the singer glad.

4 God make my life a little staff
Whereon the weak may rest,
That so what strength and health I have
May serve my neighbours best.


Source: The Song Book of the Salvation Army #838

All representative texts • Compare texts • Text size: Regular | Large^ top

Author: Matilda Edwards

Born: March 4, 1836, West­er­field (near Ip­swich), Eng­land. Died: Jan­u­a­ry 4, 1919, Hast­ings, Sus­sex, Eng­land. [Matilda Betham Edwards (1836-1919)] Daughter of Ed­ward Ed­wards, and cou­sin of Egypt­ol­o­gist Amel­ia B. Ed­wards, Ma­til­da was ed­u­cat­ed in Ips­wich and Peck­ham, and tra­veled ex­tens­ive­ly, es­pe­cial­ly in Ger­ma­ny and France. Her works in­clude: The White House by the Sea, 1857 Dr. Jacob, 1864 Kitty, 1869 Po­ems, 1885 Lord of the Har­vest, 1899 --www.hymntime.com/tch… Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

First Line: God make my life a little light Within the world to glow
Title: God Make My Life a Little Light
Author: Matilda Edwards (1873)
Language: English
Refrain First Line: A little light, a little light
Copyright: Public Domain
^ top

Notes

Hymnary Pro Subscribers
Access an additional article on the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology:
Hymnary Pro subscribers have full access to the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Get Hymnary Pro
^ top

Tune

SAWLEY (Walch)

This tune was composed by James Walch in 1857 for a children's anniversary, and was published in 1860 with other tunes for private circulation. It was wrongly assigned, in the early editions of [The Free Church Hymnal, 1888] to the Rev. F. Pigou. Scottish church music: its sources and composers, 189…

Go to tune page >


[God, make my life a little light] (Pollock)


All tunes published with 'God Make My Life a Little Light'^ top

Timeline

^ top

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #1867
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
^ top

Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)

Favourite Hymns of the Church #410

Favourite Hymns of the Church #410

Redemption Hymnal #668

Redemption Hymnal #668
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #1867

The Cyber Hymnal #1867
Text

The Song Book of the Salvation Army #838

The Song Book of the Salvation Army #838
Include 108 pre-1979 instances
All instances^ top
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.