“For the Lamb…will lead them to springs of living water.” (Revelation 7:17)
Since I had such a wonderful response to my column about John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace, I thought I would share one more story with you about a lady whom I consider to be America’s greatest hymn writer, Fanny Crosby.
Fanny Crosby wrote over 8,000 hymns during her lifetime, many of which still appear in today’s hymnals. Hymns like Blessed Assurance, All the Way My Savior Leads Me, To God Be the Glory, Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior, Safe in the Arms of Jesus, He Hideth My Soul, and Praise Him, Praise Him continue to draw souls to God for both salvation and comfort.
No hymn writer has ever had a clearer vision of Jesus than Fanny Crosby even though she never saw life as it passed right before her own eyes. You see, Fanny Crosby was blinded by an eye infection when she was only six-weeks old. Yet she never allowed her disability to become a handicap. In fact, when she was only eight-years old, she wrote:
Oh, what a happy child 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!
So weep or sigh because I’m blind
I cannot and I won’t.
I once had a boss who told me that the only difference between an opportunity and a problem is perspective. Fanny Crosby’s story brings life to those words.
The Bible teaches us that “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) But somehow when handicaps and disabilities come our way, we view them as a problem instead of an opportunity.
Jesus taught his disciples that a disability doesn’t have to become a handicap. In fact, the Bible records that Jesus once met a man who was also blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples were puzzled about why infirmities come our way questioned the Master as to why this particular man went blind. Listen to Jesus’ answer: “…this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:3)
Fanny Crosby’s life reminds all of us who allow sickness, disability or some other weakness to get us down that hope is never lost for the Christian who is willing to reach out in faith and trust Christ. She may have never seen a sunrise or a rainbow, but she knew the one who made it all happen. And her faith reassured her that the day would come when He would restore her sight. That’s why she wrote:
When my life is ended and I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see,
I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,
And His smile will be the first to welcome me.
Share on Facebook