I Sought the Lord

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me.
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found of Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the storm vexed sea.
’Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me.

I find, I walk, I love, but oh, the whole
Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou were long beforehand with my soul,
Always Thou lovest me.

Author: Anonymous

Year: 1880

The hymn first appeared in the 1880 collection 'The Pilgrim Hymnal' (or related Congregationalist publications) without a named author. It is occasionally misattributed to others (such as Thomas H. Horder or even David Morrison), but scholarly consensus treats it as anonymous.