There are women in history who quietly shaped the soul of the Church not by standing in spotlights but by kneeling in surrender. One of those women is Fanny J. Crosby, a blind poet and hymn writer whose songs still echo through our sanctuaries and hearts today.
Though she never saw a sunrise or looked into a loved one’s face, Fanny saw Jesus more clearly than most of us ever will. And she spent her life helping others see Him too.
Her story is not just inspiring, it is instructive. It reminds us that limitations do not limit God. That surrender makes room for glory. And that when we give our whole heart to Jesus, He does more with our lives than we ever could.
Her Childhood: Blindness and a Bigger Vision
Fanny Crosby was born on March 24, 1820, in Brewster, New York. At just six weeks old, a doctor’s mistake left her permanently blind. Her father died before she turned one, and her mother worked long hours to support the family. Many would see that as a tragic start, but God saw a vessel being prepared.
Her grandmother, Eunice, became her greatest influence. She patiently described nature to Fanny and read the Bible aloud every day. Fanny began to memorize Scripture and eventually committed to memory entire books, Genesis, Exodus, the Gospels, Proverbs, and many Psalms - by age 15.
She later said:
“If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beauty and interesting things about me.”
That kind of contentment? It can only come from a life completely yielded to Christ.
Fanny Crosby in 1906, captured as she appeared when speaking in public. From Memories of Eighty Years, published by James H. Earle & Company, Boston.
Her Conversion: From Talent to Testimony
Though Fanny had a strong foundation in Scripture, her personal relationship with Jesus was not settled until she was 30 years old. During a revival service in 1850 at the Broadway Tabernacle in New York City, she responded to the call to surrender her life to Christ.
From that point on, her poetic gift became her ministry. And the words began to pour out.
Her Ministry: Hymns That Open Heaven
Fanny Crosby wrote more than 8,000 hymns, so many that publishers asked her to use pen names to keep her name from overwhelming their hymnals. She agreed, always more concerned about souls than recognition.
Her most beloved songs include:
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“Blessed Assurance”
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“To God Be the Glory”
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“Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior”
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“Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”
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“Rescue the Perishing”
Each one was written with a heart focused on eternity. Often, a composer like Phoebe Palmer Knapp would play a melody and ask Fanny, “What does this say to you?” And Fanny would reply almost immediately with a complete hymn, the kind that still brings tears to our eyes today.
When Phoebe played the tune to what would become “Blessed Assurance,” Fanny responded:
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!”
She did not just write hymns, she prayed them. She lived them. She shared them with the wealthy and the poor alike.
CeCe Winans brings new life to Fanny Crosby’s beloved 1873 hymn “Blessed Assurance,” inviting us to embrace the joy and peace found in Jesus.
Her Service: Seeing the Invisible People
Fanny never let her blindness stop her from serving others. She could often be found ministering in the slums of New York City, especially at rescue missions like the Bowery. She gave away most of her income, choosing instead to live modestly and walk among the broken.
One evening at a mission, she felt the Holy Spirit whisper, “Speak to someone who’s about to make a terrible choice.” She obeyed, urging someone in the room to come forward and receive Christ. A young man did, and later told her she had stopped him from ending his life.
That encounter inspired the hymn “Rescue the Perishing.”
Fanny’s Legacy: A Light Still Shining
Fanny Crosby died on February 12, 1915, at age 94. Her tombstone bears the words of Jesus about another woman who poured out all she had:
“She hath done what she could.” — Mark 14:8
And isn’t that what we all long to hear? That we gave our best to Jesus. That we used what we had and did not focus on what we lacked. That we surrendered our limitations and let His strength shine through our weakness.
“To God Be the Glory,” one of Fanny Crosby’s timeless hymns, first published in 1875, continues to inspire praise and worship around the world.
How Can We Be More Like Fanny?
In today’s world, we’re bombarded with images of what we’re not, what we lack, what we “should” be. But Fanny Crosby shows us a different way: a life of deep surrender, quiet faithfulness, and unshakable joy.
Here’s how we can follow her example:
1. Use Your Gifts, Even If They Seem Small
You may not write hymns, but you might write words that help a friend believe again. Or raise a child who grows up to serve God. Or make meals for someone who is grieving. It all matters.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” — Colossians 3:23
2. Serve the Overlooked
Fanny did not stay in comfortable places. She went to missions and prayed with strangers. Who in your life is invisible? Who needs to know they are seen?
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for Me.” — Matthew 25:40
3. Surrender the Things You Cannot Change
Fanny never saw her blindness as a burden. She saw it as a blessing. What if we laid down our disappointments and trusted God to use them for His glory?
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
4. Praise in All Seasons
When life was dark, Fanny still sang. Her hymns teach us to worship through pain, to hold onto Jesus when nothing else makes sense.
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” — Psalm 34:1
Final Thoughts: Your Story Can Shine Too
Fanny Crosby never saw a rainbow. But she helped millions see God’s promises. She never gazed at a flower. But she painted gardens of grace with her words. She could not see a face. But she knew she would see Jesus one day, and that was enough.
Sister, if you ever feel like your offering is small, if you feel unseen, unheard, or unqualified, remember Fanny. And remember this:
“The Lord sees not as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7
Do what you can. Love well. Praise often. And like Fanny, may your life sing a song that leads others to Jesus.
A Prayer for Today
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the example of Fanny Crosby, a woman who trusted You with all her heart and used the gifts You gave her to shine Your light in a dark world. Help me to surrender my limitations and offer my life fully to You. Teach me to see with eyes of faith, to love without hesitation, and to praise You in every season. May my life be a hymn of hope that draws others closer to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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