Safe in the Arms of Jesus -Fanny J. Crosby

Fanny Crosby was America’s best-known hymn and gospel song author. Fanny had always written poems, but when famous composer William Bradbury asked her to write her first hymn at the age of forty-one, she found her purpose in life. The poet, who had been blind from infancy, told a friend she was “the happiest creature in all the land.”

Fanny Crosby had a spontaneous way of writing her songs. One day in 1868, William Doane, a successful businessman and composer of hymn tunes, called on her in her Brooklyn apartment. He’d written a new tune and wanted her to provide some words for it, but he had only forty minutes before he had to catch a train. She listened as he played through the tune and then went into another room. In less than thirty minutes, she returned, reciting the words of what would become “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.” Doane quickly wrote them down and hurried off to catch his train. “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” became one of her favorite gospel songs, and it has comforted so many people.

A story was told by a visitor to the quaint fishing village of St. Ives, Cornwall in England. One day as he walked down to the shore in a heavy fog, he heard a group of women singing hymns. When he asked why they were singing, they told him that they were the wives and daughters of fishermen who could be lost in the fog. By hearing the singing, the men could make their way to shore. One of the songs being sung was Fanny Crosby’s familiar song. The women sang part of the first stanza: “Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on his gentle breast…” The fishermen would complete the stanza, “Hark! ‘tis the voice of angels, Borne in a song to me, Over the fields of glory, Over the jasper sea.”

“Safe in the Arms of Jesus” has been sung at many funerals. Some historians believe that this hymn was a comfort to Fanny personally. Earlier in her life, she’d lost a baby during childbirth, and she was so devastated that she hardly spoke to anyone about it. This gospel song offers the hope and assurance she’d received from the Lord. “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” is the only place to experience His love and comfort.  The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).

All rights reserved. Without the express written permission of the publisher, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted, whether in whole or in part, in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, storage retrieval system, recording, or any other.