Hymns of Hope: Blessed Assurance

Many of the hymns were born out of immense sorrow. In this series, we will examine these songs of old, discover the circumstances behind when they were written, and find comfort in the lyrics that so powerfully point us to the hope of Christ.

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This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

Surely the person who penned those words I sang hundreds of times growing up never knew heartache. Surely. 

Not so. Fanny Crosby was a mother who never got to raise her child. Her daughter died in her sleep shortly after being born, and only a few relatives and close friends knew of her loss until the end of her life when she said, “ I became a mother and knew a mother’s love.” After the loss of her child she wrote the hymn “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” 

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul doth rest.

Fanny was a prolific author of hymns, but she knew what heartache felt like. Losing her daughter wasn’t the only hardship to cause her heartache. She was blind by six weeks old. Her father died when she was six months old. Her mother and grandmother raised her and helped her memorize Bible verses. By the age of 15, she had memorized much of the Bible. 

Fanny wrote nearly 9,000 hymns (many published under numerous pseudonyms because she was a woman and hymn book publishers wanted a variety of authors). Fanny often wrote 7-8 hymns a day! Though Fanny was a successful author of hymns, and also wrote two autobiographies and poetry, she wanted to be known most for her work with poor people. Not only did she work tirelessly with a rescue mission, she also donated most of her money to help the poor. 

What set her apart from other hymn writers was her adoration for the Lord and her declaration of His goodness. Up until that time, hymns mostly focused on mankind’s sins. She wrote songs representing her personal relationship with the Lord and of His love. 

Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest;

Fanny’s own heartache, and that of those around her, caused her faith to grow strong. She knew the importance of a relationship with Jesus and her dependence on Him. She looked forward to the assurance of seeing her daughter again someday. 

Fanny said about her blindness, “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank Him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” She also once said, “When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.” 

I imagine after Fanny looks into her heavenly Father’s eyes, she’ll turn to look upon her daughter. 

Life’s hardships threaten to strip us of joy and peace, but Jesus offers us the assurance of His eternal life. A blessed assurance. When we put our faith in Jesus as our Savior, we can be assured of seeing our children again one day. Until then, as Fanny wrote, they are safe in the arms of Jesus. 

Watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

One of the aspects of Fanny’s life that touched and inspired me was her knowledge of the Word of God. She knew of His promises and faithfulness because she knew Him by knowing His Word. The assurance she had of God’s goodness in spite of her heartache caused her to serve others and proclaim the marvels of a personal relationship with Jesus. 

How about you, dear Hope Mom? Can you offer praises to the Lord in spite of—or because of—your loss? Can you rest in knowing that if you call Jesus your Savior, you will see your precious one(s) again? As followers of Christ, we can have this Blessed Assurance.

I want to be someone who—regardless of the heartache and trials this life offers—can sing the words to Blessed Assurance.

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

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Shelly D. Templin is an author, speaker and blogger that shares a message of hope—with humor. She has three daughters, a son-in-law, and a granddaughter. Shelly lives in Texas with her husband, Jack, of 29 years and their two dogs.

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