Fanny Crosby: The BlessedProvidence of God

What he did to them, or what happened in spite of him, I do not know, but it resulted in their permanent destruction, so far as seeing is concerned ; and I was doomed to blindness all the rest of my earthly existence.

I have heard that this physician never ceased expressing his regret at the occurrence; and that it was one of the sorrows of his life. But if I could meet him now, I would say, “Thank you, thank you—over and over again—for making me blind, if it was through your agency that it came about !”

This sounds strangely to you, reader? But I assure you I mean it—every word of it; and if perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I would not accept it. Did you ever know of a blind person's talking like this before?

Why would I not have that doctor's mistake—if mistake it was—remedied? Well, there are many reasons: and I will tell you some of them.

One is, that I know, although it may have been a blunder on the physician's part, it was no mistake of God's. I verily believe it was His intention that I should live my days in physical darkness, so as to be better prepared to sing His praises and incite others so to do. I could not have written thousands of hymns—many of which, if you will pardon me for repeating it, are sung all over the world if I had been hindered by the distractions of seeing all the interesting and beautiful objects that would have been presented to my notice.

Another reason is, that, while I am deprived of many splendid sights (which, as above mentioned, might draw me away from the principal work of my life), I have also been spared the seeing of a great many unpleasant things. The merciful God has put His hand over my eyes, and shut out from me the sight of many instances of cruelty and bitter unkindness and misfortune, that I would not have been able to relieve, and must simply have suffered in seeing. I am content with what I can know of life through the four senses I possess, practically unimpaired, at eighty-three years of age. Hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling, are still felt, in their fullest degree.

Another reason for my apparently strange assertion is, that I have been able to test and make sure so many kind and loving friends. Almost without exception, the great world has been good to me: all the kinder, perhaps, on account of what it considered my affliction. I may say truly that I never for a moment presumed on my blindness for any extra courtesy or advantage, yet I have often felt that it was a bond between sympathetic hearts and mine."

Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915) in Fanny Crosby's Life-Story, by Herself (New York: Every Where Publishing Company, 1903) 13-15. Download the book in PDF form freely here. This is the first of seven posts from this book.

Because Fanny authored more than 8,000 hymns, as a bonus each day I will feature classic versions of one of her hymns on YouTube. It takes me back to my childhood when church music was simple. Today, enjoy To God be the Glory.

Today we do well to recount the three reasons that Fanny saw her condition through the lens of the blessed Providence of God. I pray this helps you as a reader to see your challenges through the same lens of God's generosity toward you:

1. Divine Purpose: Fanny believed her blindness was God's intentional plan to shield her from visual distractions so she could focus entirely on writing hymns.

I don't know your situation but God does. I pray Fanny's perspective helps you look beyond any problems to see the Providence of God. Join me in starting this week with this prayer.

Father in heaven, teach me to say "to God be the glory" in any and every situation, and help me remember Your love for me and for all humankind in the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I resolve to fix the eyes of my heart, like Fanny, on Him. Amen.