At the age of 32, Charlotte Elliott contracted a serious illness which plagued her for the rest of her life. She endured a great deal of suffering and died at the age of 82 having penned about 150 hymns. She wrote: "My Hea­ven­ly Fa­ther knows, and He alone, what it is, hour af­ter hour, to fight against bo­di­ly feel­ings of over­pow­er­ing weak­ness and exhaustion; to re­solve, as He en­a­bles me to do, not to yield to dep­res­sion and ir­ri­ta­bil­i­ty, but to rise ev­ery morn­ing joyfully knowing: 'If anyone will come af­ter Me, let them de­ny themselves, take up their cross dai­ly, and fol­low Me'."

Up to the point of her illness, Charlotte had become depressed and weighed down with a sense of guilt. She was deeply aware of her own sinfulness and felt totally unworthy of God's grace. She always felt afraid and incapable of facing a righteous and perfect God. She was told by different pastors at the many churches she visited, to pray more, to study the Bible more and to perform more noble deeds. But this did not bring peace to her tormented soul and seems to have driven her away from the church.

Her debilitating sickness had the benefit of removing her from her non-Christian companions and to feeling a desperate need for a personal Saviour. About this time, the Rev. Dr Cesar Malan, who was on a visit to her father's residence, asked her whether she was at peace with God; a question she resented at the time and refused to talk about that day. But a few days later she called on Dr Malan and apologised, insisting she wanted first to cleanse her life before becoming a Christian. He answered, "Come just as you are," and that very day she committed her life to Christ. Their friendship became life-long. Its beginning was always regarded as the birthday of her soul to true spiritual life and peace.

When Charlotte wrote the hymn "Just as I am" it was soon being translated into almost every living language of the day. It is believed that tens of thousands of people have committed their lives to Christ after singing it. Dr Billy Graham wrote that his team used it in almost every one of their crusades, since it presented "the strongest possible biblical basis for the call of Christ." I have always loved this hymn and identify with its every word.

Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me
And that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt
Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind
Yea, all I need in thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, thou wilt receive; wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve
Because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, thy love unknown hath broken every barrier down
Now, to be thine, yea thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come