Today’s post is part of the The HIStories Behind the Hymns series. It focuses on the song “Blessed Assurance” and the amazing woman who wrote it Fanny Crosby.

The Gift of Blindness

Fanny Crosby was born in Putnam County, New York in 1820. At six weeks old she was mistreated for an eye infection — the treatment burned her corneas and left her permanently blind. One year later, her father died leaving her mother a widower and the financial provider of the family.

One would think these two events would lead to a life of bitterness and self-pity, but this was not the case for Fanny. She viewed her blindness as a gift not a burden. At age 8 she wrote the following poem:

Oh, what a happy soul I am,

although I cannot see!

I am resolved that in this world

Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy

That other people don’t,

To weep and sigh because I’m blind

I cannot, and I won’t!

Fanny was not only a lover of poetry, she was also a lover of God’s word. Under the guidance of her mother and family members, Fanny memorized all four gospels, the first 5 books of the Old Testament, Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and many Psalms.

At age 15, Fanny enrolled at the New York Institute for the Blind. There she learned to play several instruments and received vocal lessons. She also continued to write poetry and had many opportunities to recite for several prominent people, including President James K. Polk, Henry Clay, William Cullen Bryant.

Sharing the Blessed Assurance of the Gospel

In addition to poetry, Fanny wrote hymns. Her goal was to share the Gospel. She knew that there were many people in the world who would not ordinarily go to church and her hope was that they would hear the Gospel through her lyrics. You can hear the Gospel preached through this beautiful hymn Blessed Assurance.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels, descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

What is Blessed Assurance?

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

As believers who put their faith in the saving work of the Cross, we can have the blessed assurance that our eternity will be spent in the presence of our Saviour. In other words, we know with certainty that we are heirs with Christ because we have been washed by His blood. The lyrics of “Blessed Assurance” give us a glimpse of what this will look like.

Though we fail at perfect submission now, one day we will not. Though sometimes we doubt His love and mercy, it will be continually echoed and whispered to us in Heaven. Today we struggle to rest, we struggle to be lost in His love, but one day in the near future we will sing “I in my Savior am happy and blest…Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.”

Blessed assurance is knowing that Jesus ours!

For God’s Glory Alone

Fanny wrote more than 9,000 hymns, including “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Rescue the Perishing,” “The Bright Forever,” “Savior, More Than Life to Me,” and “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.” One would think that she should have gained much notoriety and wealth for her talents, but this was not the case. Fanny penned several hymns under many different pseudonyms. Some historians believe this was her way of humbly keeping the name of Jesus, not her own, at the forefront of her musical ministry. She also donated much of her monetary earnings for these hymns to the various missions she supported

Later in life someone remarked to Fanny how sad it was that she had lived her entire life blind. Her response was remarkable. She told him that she wouldn’t have it any other way “because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.” How beautiful to live in anticipation of seeing the face of Jesus!

Fanny died in 1915, but she had lived for God. She gave Him her life and He used her blindness and her talents for His everlasting glory.