FANNY CROSBY Finding Solace in Psalms
YOU MAY NOT KNOW FANNY CROSBY’S NAME, but if you grew up in church, you’ve probably sung one of the 8,000 hymns or gospel songs she penned during her lifetime. Fanny was an inspiration to many, and for much more than her prolific writing. Blinded due to an illness shortly after birth, she lived during the nineteenth century when people with disabilities had few rights and were viewed by many as unable to be educated. Thankfully, her family encouraged her love of writing, music, and memorizing Scripture. They sent her to the New York Institution for the Blind, where she graduated and later returned as an instructor. Fanny also became an advocate lobbying in support of education for the blind and was the first woman to speak in the United States Senate.
When she leaned on the Psalms, Fanny found a wellspring of inspiration
While Fanny was a brave voice for those with disabilities, as well as the poor and needy, she also experienced many hardships. Her only child, a daughter, died in her sleep at a few months of age. With a mom’s grieving heart, Fanny wrote the hymn “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” She always found solace in the Psalms, especially those that encouraged her to hold on until the day she would see her Savior’s face. Fanny realized her physical limitations exposed her to powerful emotions which, if left unattended, could sway her faith. But when she leaned on the Psalms, Fanny found a wellspring of inspiration, as well as the foundation for many of her hymns. Psalm 27 inspired the hymn “He Hideth My Soul”:
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand.
Other beloved songs Fanny wrote include “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior,” “Blessed Assurance,” and “To God Be the Glory.” Even today, Fanny Crosby’s songs and poetry continue to bring comfort and hope throughout the world.