1873

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Chorus:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

History: Frances “Fanny” J. Crosby was blinded at six weeks of age after harsh treatment that left scarring on her eyes, and soon after she became fatherless. However, she became a prolific hymn writer and poetess who wrote around 8,000 hymns. In years to come, she would remark that her loss of sight was “the greatest blessing the Creator ever bestowed on me”, as the first face that she hopes to see after this life would be of Jesus.

Crosby’s friend and composer, Phoebe Palmer Knapp (1839-1908), played the melody of this hymn to her and asked “What does the melody say to you?” Crosby immediately replied “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!” and proceeded to compose the rest of the hymn. 

Reflection: As children of God, we get to have a “foretaste of glory divine”, of what is to come in Heaven. This is where there is “perfect submission” and “perfect delight” in our Lord, where there is rest and happiness in our Saviour. Our life on earth is filled with “watching and waiting, looking above” to be modelled in His image. 

Throughout the struggles of this year I am reminded of this blessed assurance. That there is a higher and heavenly place that God has prepared for those who love him. In times where I feel nothing but unworthiness and when Satan whispers in my ear and reminds me of sin, I pray to be reminded of this blessed assurance. Jesus has already purchased us and we have been washed in His blood. There is no need for doubt of our salvation. Even in the worst of times, let us find peace and assurance in the love of our Saviour.