July 17, 2005

Have faith in God –
And the Savior's infinite worth;
Have faith in God –
For our world’s coming new birth;
Have faith in God –
The oldest religion on earth.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Under His Wings

William O. Cushing, 1823-1902

    He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4.

    Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. Psalm 17:8, 9.

The author of this hymn text, William Cushing, wrote these words as an expression of Psalm 17:8--"Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings." After pastoring several large churches, Cushing suddenly was told that he could no longer preach. He had lost the power of speech. Broken in spirit, his heart cried out to God with the words of the psalmist. God answered by giving him the gift of writing. In all, William Cushing wrote more than 300 hymns, including Follow On, Hiding in Thee, Ring the Bells of Heaven, There'll Be No Dark Valley, and When He Cometh. Those hymns may have had an even wider spiritual influence than his years of successful pastoring. Under His Wings first appeared in Ira Sankey's Sacred Songs No. 1, published in 1896. It has continued to be a favorite hymn among God's people.

Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

Chorus:
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever!

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission