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"Light Shining Out of Darkness"

William Cowper, 1774; Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779)

William Cooper suffered severe, often suicidal depression his entire adult life in a day and age when depression was undiagnosed and God was viewed as a stern, revengeful task master; his fatherly, loving face rarely spoken of or even considered. Cowper was still able to reach out and touch his God, as evidenced in this text that speaks of God’s smiling face and clouds of mercy. And, that God rode upon the storm – undoubtedly as a lifeguard to the weary who were caught in the storm.

The Original Text:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

Hymn #21 in the 1840 Manchester Hymnal;
#89 in the 1841 Nauvoo Hymnal:

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take!
The clouds ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning Providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
Thy bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain:
God is his own Interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

This page is part of the "Lost Hymns Project" by Bruce T. Forbes