This week I came across a poem recently that arrested my attention and that has stayed on my mind. It is Christina Rossetti’s short lyric, None Other Lamb. I encountered it while reading an article on the Inkwell Substack titled Being a Christian Writer is Costly by Sara Kyoungah White. This excellent and important article reflected on Rossetti’s faith and her refusal to soften the claims of Christ for the sake of acceptance. The article was timely for me, as I have found myself struggling to know what to do about writing and this website. (Side Note: I have really enjoyed the Inkwell community over at Substack. If you are a Christ-follower and if words and writing are one of the ways you process the world, then I highly recommend checking it out.). But even more than the wise words from the article’s author, Sara White, I found myself turning the words of Christina Rossetti’s poem over and over in my soul.
Christina Rossetti was a nineteenth-century English poet, deeply shaped by Scripture and by suffering. Though she was somewhat celebrated in her lifetime, her faith often put her at odds with the literary and social currents of her day. Chronic illness, grief, and disappointment marked much of her life. Yet her writing reflects a steady anchoring in Christ rather than in circumstance. None Other Lamb was written out of that place of weakness and dependence.
The poem opens with an uncompromising confession:
None other Lamb, none other name,
none other hope in heav’n or earth or sea,
none other hiding place from guilt and shame,
none beside thee!
What strikes me is the exclusivity of her language. There is no hedging here. No appeal to sentiment or self-sufficiency. This is the language of John 6, when Peter says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” It is the language of Acts 4:12, that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Rossetti is not reaching for comfort. She is confessing truth.
The middle stanza feels especially close to home right now.
My faith burns low, my hope burns low;
only my heart’s desire cries out in me
by the deep thunder of its want and woe,
cries out to thee.
The last few months have been difficult spiritually, physically, and mentally. There have been days when prayer felt dry and worship felt quiet. My heart has felt cold. Yet Scripture reminds us that faith is not measured by intensity of feeling but by the object of our trust. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench.
Even faith that feels weak is upheld by a strong Savior.
Remind me of this, Jesus. Remind me that you uphold me.
Rossetti does not deny the weakness of her faith. She names it plainly. But she also knows where that weakness must be taken. Her heart’s desire cries out, not because she is strong, but because Christ is sufficient. This echoes Romans 8, where we are told that when we do not know what to pray, the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
The final stanza settles the matter.
Lord, thou art Life, though I be dead;
love’s fire thou art, however cold I be:
nor heav’n have I, nor place to lay my head,
nor home, but thee.
This is theology put to verse. Life is not found in us but in Christ. Any warmth in me comes from His prior work, not my own effort. As Paul writes, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Our hope is not our spiritual vitality, our consistency, or our emotional awareness of God’s presence. Our hope is Christ Himself, given to us by grace alone.
There is comfort here for those of us who feel unsettled or weary. Christ does not cease to be our home when our hearts feel cold. He does not withdraw His presence because our faith seems thin. He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
I am grateful for writers like Rossetti that remind me that Christian faith – my faith – is not sentimental optimism. It is costly, yes, but it is also grounded in truth. It is sustained not by how tightly I cling to Christ, but by how securely He holds me.
And how securely He holds you, my fellow Christ-follower.
I need to return time and again to this simple confession. There is no other Lamb. No other hope. No other home. Even when I do not sense His nearness, He is here.
None other Hiding Place.
He is my home.
Psalm 90:1
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Hi Shelly, thanks so much for this article ‘None Other Hiding Place / All is Well’; it has really encouraged me at this time in my life.
Due to a job loss, and for some strange reason, all other doors/job opportunities have been closed to me, except one; working in a prison in the state of Georgia for the past 5 months.
It is the last job that I would ever choose, yet here I am. I feel that I am in the belly of a whale, or walking in the valley of the shadow of death, or walking in the wilderness for 40 years. Daily witnessing the horrible conditions and the human suffering and abuse has taken its toll on me, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Many times I have to hide my tears at work and/or wait until I get home to shed them.
Again, I so appreciate your words of encouragement, “Even faith that feels weak is upheld by a strong Savior.” Also, “It, [faith], is sustained not by how tightly I cling to Christ, but by how securely He holds me.”
The Lord bless you.
Michael Newberry
Michael – thank you so much for reading. I am so very sorry; I can’t even imagine. I do hope this was an encouragement – remember that He is holding you fast; even when you can’t sense his presence. Praying that you’ll be able to endure while also providing some sense of comfort and peace in such a comfortless environment that is defined by the very lack of peace present.
Oh Shelly – such a spot on reminder: “my faith – – – is sustained not by how tightly I cling to Christ, but by how securely He holds me”. Beautiful TRUTH! So thankful you are writing again – to God be the glory!
Truth indeed! Thank you so much for your continual encouragement and for always being in my corner – to God be the glory; amen!
I’m sooo glad that I am hearing from you again. I wondered what happened. You have my old email address. Please change the email address.
gnomaeda@ gmail.com
Mahalo,
Pearl
Aloha! Your note here absolutely made my day when I read it! Thank you for reading,,,,I’ll update your email tonight! Love you much !
Thank you, Shelly! I love the poetry, and the strength and truths in your words.
Thank you for reading Laurie! I love the poetry as well…I don’t know how I am just now stumbling upon Christina Rosetti….I’m enjoying perusing her other writings as well. Grateful for you and your entire family!
Well said. The Christian life is a marathon. It’s sometimes grueling and, at the end of the day, crossing the finish line is due to the work of Christ.
Linda – amen and amen; it is definitely a marathon and one we will only finish due to His work of mercy, grace, justification and sanctification. I hope you are doing well, my friend – love and miss you!
Oh wow!! This is so needful and so comforting!! Thank you!!
Thank you for reading; and your consistent kindness in encouraging me to keep writing here in this little corner of the internet – I am grateful for you!
I am so blessed to have crossed paths with you. Thank you ! Best and blessings.
Doc! ! So, so good to hear from you! I hope you are doing well….and I’m the one who is truly blessed to have crossed paths with you on this crazy journey! Thank you for your influence in my life and so many others; and thank you for continuing to read my attempts to process the world and God and scripture and this thing called life here at this website – I am deeply appreciative. 🙂