Fanny Crosby’s world was shrouded in a darkness that had enveloped her since infancy. A doctor’s error had stolen her sight as a newborn, a blow that would have crushed most people. Yet Fanny’s vision was clearer than most. From an early age, she refused to be defined by what she couldn’t do. Where others saw only limitation, she saw a boundless horizon.
“I have never seen a green tree, a blue sky or the face of a friend,” she once mused, “but I know that God is good.” Rather than lamenting her loss, she wove it into a remarkable gift. Memorizing vast swaths of Scripture by ear, she began crafting poetry. Soon, her words blossomed into hymns that would touch countless hearts. Over her lifetime, Fanny wrote more than 8,000 hymns — songs like “Blessed Assurance” that became pillars of faith and triumph:
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.
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.
[Excerpt of Blessed Assurance by Fanny Crosby]
Her peers were amazed by her outlook. Once, a preacher remarked, “It’s a great pity the Master didn’t grant you sight.” Fanny’s reply was swift and striking: “Do you know that if I’d had one wish at birth, it would’ve been to be born blind? Because when I reach heaven, the first face to gladden my eyes will be my Savior’s!”
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” — Romans 8:37
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT
Fanny Crosby’s life is a powerful illustration of what it means to be “more than a conqueror.” Her blindness was not a limitation, but a platform for extraordinary faith. She transformed what could have been a life of darkness into the light of hope, showing us that true vision comes not from our eyes, but from a heart connected with God. Her story is a powerful reminder that our challenges aren’t always obstacles, but opportunities for God’s grace to shine through.
MY PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the inspiring example of Fanny Crosby. Help me to see beyond my own limitations, to trust in Your purpose and to find strength in Your love. When darkness threatens to overwhelm me, remind me that in You, I am more than a conqueror. Give me the courage to transform my challenges into opportunities for Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
