Isaac Watts's Rejection and Resilience

He was brilliant; even as a child he was a gifted poet. At four he learned Latin; eventually he went on to read Greek, Hebrew and French. Later, because he refused allegiance to the Church of England he was denied entrance to Oxford and Cambridge, so he attended an independent Christian academy. His nose was crooked and overwhelmed his face.

His head was too big for his small body and his eyes were tiny and piercing. He never married, although a girl who read his poetry expressed a romantic interest. But later she backed down when she saw him.

The focus of overwhelming rejection, Isaac Watts became a man of compassion and sensitivity, which he expressed in the hundreds of hymns he wrote. You’re probably familiar with many of them, like “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past,” and “Joy to the World.” Watts didn’t sit around feeling sorry for himself because he felt rejected. No.

He said, “I must fight if I would reign; increase my courage Lord. I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain; supported by thy word.”