"For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." - 2 Timothy 1:12
It’s more common for me to share songs that predate the past 80 years of American evangelical hymnody. That’s not for a particular reason - I was raised on those wonderful songs and they are dear to my heart. I usually select the hymns based on what our parish is singing that week (I format the bulletins), and so they are, in general, pulled from the 16th-19th century and often written by British authors. Still, there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about reflecting on the precious tunes that I grew up singing in our Baptist church. Today I’m sharing one of my favorites.
"Blessed Assurance" was born from a beautiful collaboration between two remarkable women of faith in 1873. Fanny Crosby (who was blind from her infancy but went on to be one of America’s most prolific hymnwriters!) was visiting her friend Phoebe Knapp in Brooklyn, New York. Have you read the story of Crosby? If not, please do take some time and learn about her. What a life!
Phoebe was the wife of the founder of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and was also an accomplished musician. She had recently composed a melody, and when she played it for Fanny, she asked, "What does this music say to you?"
Fanny instantaneously responded, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!" Very quickly, Crosby had crafted the complete text that would become one of the most cherished hymns in Christian history - I can almost guarantee that every single person reading this knows and has sung this timeless and treasured hymn.
Fanny Crosby went on to write over 8,000 hymns during her lifetime.
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.
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 communion, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]
Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and bless’d,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
*I’m not a country music fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I have always loved this rendition by Alan Jackson.
Yes, a favorite with sturdy truth for us to stand on “all the day long”!
One of my favorite hymns of all time.