Fanny Crosby is one of the most popular and prolific hymn writers ever. She wrote 9000 hymns during her life. She was a poet and taught English and History at The New York Institute for the Blind all while being blind herself. 

Her lyrics are well known. All the Way my Savior Leads Me, Blessed Assurance, Blessed Redeemer, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Draw me Nearer, Near the Cross, Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior, To God Be the Glory, and of course this great song, He Hideth My Soul.

Fanny Crosby's lyrics reflect a need and reliance on God. Perhaps she understood this better than most of us in dealing with her own weakness. 

Frances Ridley Havergal, a Victorian poetess of England, paid her the following beautiful tribute, recognizing the irony of one who can see such beauty yet not be able to physically see.:

Sweet blind singer over the sea,
Tuneful and jubilant, how can it be
That the songs of gladness, that float so far
As if they fell from the evening star, 
Are the notes of one who may never see
Visible music of flower and tree,
Purple of mountain or glitter of snow,
Ruby and gold of the sunset glow?
Never the ken of mortal eye
Could pierce so deep and far and high
As the eagle vision of hearts that dwell
In the lofty, sunlit citadel
Of faith that overcomes the world
With banners of hope and joy unfurled,
Garrisoned with God's perfect peace,
Ringing with paeans that never cease,
Flooded with splendors bright and broad-
The glorious light of the Love of God!

Fanny Crosby could not see the beautiful things that we see every day and take for granted, but Fanny Crosby could see the beauty of God--perhaps in a way many of us have never yet seen him. She trusted Him and recognized that He provided every one of her needs.

Perhaps most of us need to ask God to take away our blindness so that we can see like Fanny Crosby. To take away our bindness to the ways he provides for us each and every day so we can see his beauty and not be so focused on what we physically see as important.

Chorus 1
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
And covers me there with His hand

Verse 1
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord
A wonderful Savior to me
He hideth my soul
In the cleft of the rock
Where rivers of pleasure I see

Verse 2
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord
He taketh my burden away
He holdeth me up
And I shall not be moved
He giveth me strength as my day

Verse 3
With numberless blessings
Each moment He crowns
And filled with His fullness divine
I sing in my rapture oh glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine

Verse 4
When clothed in His brightness
Transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky
His perfect salvation
His wonderful love I'll shout
With the millions on high

Fanny Jane Crosby
William James Kirkpatrick

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