Where Could I Go But To The Lord?

“Where Could I Go But To The Lord?” is a wonderful enduring Gospel hymn written in 1940 by James Buchanan (aka, J.B.) Coats (1901-1961). Thank God for this dear saint. Brother Coats was born on April 6, 1901 in Summerland, Mississippi. By the time he was fourteen years old, J.B. was teaching music classes and leading evangelistic singings.

Where Could I Go But To The Lord

As the true story goes, Mr. Buchanan was inspired by a dying neighbor, an elderly African-American man named, Joe Keyes. Mr. Coats asked the old man if he knew where he would spend eternity and the neighbor kindly replied: “Where could I go but to the Lord?” Several years later while teaching at a singing school, J.B. remembered those prolific words and wrote this time enduring classic hymn, which is still cherished today by the Christian world. Thank you J.B.!

The $64,000 question reminds us that—whether we are riddled with life's problems, enjoying a beautiful day, suffering through a hellish nightmare that won't seem to ever end, or making our final journey home to be with the Lord—there is nowhere else to turn except to the dear Lord. I have been there more times than I care to remember, when the only direction I could look was UP. Psalms 142:4, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” Please notice David's immortal words, “refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” I know that helpless lonely feeling, where there is nowhere to turn for help at a dire criticial moment in one's life. At those perilous times, all I could do was humble myself in lowly prayer before the throne of God in Heaven, and plead for His mercy to find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).

J.B. Coats wrote numerous songs including “A Wonderful Place,” “I’m Winging My Way Back Home,” “Where There Is Love” and “Tomorrow May Mean Goodbye.” This dear saint of God graduated to Heaven on December 15, 1961.

Lyrics

Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptation so
Now won't you tell me

Where could I go but to the Lord
Where could I go oh where could I go
Seeking the refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to save me in the end
Won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

Life here is grand with friends I love so dear
Comfort I get from God's own word
Yet when I face that chilling hand of death
Won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

Where could I go but to the Lord
Where could I go oh where could I go
Seeking the refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to save me in the end
Won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

Amen and amen! I cherish this classic hymn of the Christian faith.

“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁.” —𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗳𝗳