Hold Thou My Hand!
A Hymn

 

Hold thou my hand! So weak I am, and helpless,
I dare not take one step without thine aid;
hold thou my hand! For then, o loving saviour,
no dread of ill shall make my soul afraid.

Hold thou my hand! And closer, closer draw me
to thy dear self—my hope, my joy, my all;
hold thou my hand, lest hap’ly I should wander;
and, missing thee, my trembling feet should fall.

Hold thou my hand! The way is dark before me
without the sunlight of thy face divine;
but when by faith I catch its radiant glory,
what heights of joy, what rapt’rous songs are mine!

Hold thou my hand! That when I reach the margin
of that lone river thou didst cross for me,
a heavenly light may flash along its waters,
and ev’ry wave like crystal bright shall be.

Grace J. Frances
Aka Fanny Crosby

  

These are the words of Fanny Crosby (1820‑1915) who wrote under many "nom de plumes" and was a prolific writer. The remarkable thing about her in light of the above hymn was that at six weeks old she became blind in unfortunate circumstances. For her education she was sent to a blind institute in New York state where eventually she went on to teach for over ten years. But her first work was published as a girl in 1831 and she had a volume of her work published as a young woman. After marrying a blind man in 1858 she went on to write her first hymn in 1864. According to www.hymnary.org "60 have come into common use in Great Britain" such as "All the way my Saviour leads me" and "To God be the glory".

Here are some scriptures which are thought to have inspired her:

Isaiah 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.

Isaiah 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Psalm 37:23‑26 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (RSV) For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Mark 8:22‑25 (RSV) They came to Beth‑sa’ida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him.And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?" And he looked up and said, "I see men; but they look like trees, walking." Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.