Hymn: Fanny Crosby: Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior

It may seem a little old-fashioned, always to begin one’s work with prayer, but I never undertake a hymn without first asking the good Lord to be my inspiration. — Fanny Crosby

Fanny Crosby was an incredible person. It’s beyond the scope of this blog to tell you everything there is to know about her; if you want to read further consider this great Christianity Today article, or check out her Wikipedia page. 

Crosby wrote over 8,000 hymns, is in virtually every hymnal (though she used over 200 pseudonyms over the course of her career because some publicists were reluctant to put so many hymns by one author in their hymnals), has been printed over 100 million times, and was made blind by a fake doctor at 6 weeks old. The first bit of poetry she ever composed (at age 8) was:

Oh, what a happy soul I am,

although I cannot see!

I am resolved that in this world

Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy

That other people don’t,

To weep and sigh because I’m blind

I cannot, and I won’t!

Her hymns include “Blessed Assurance“, “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home”, “Praise Him, Praise Him”, “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” “ To God Be the Glory, “ and many, many more. 

And yet, Crosby did not see herself as a writer first. She described her main occupation as working in missions, and that she did. She spent most of her life living and working and sharing Jesus with the less fortunate in New York City. Any wealth she amassed from her thousands of writings she gave away. In fact, doing the work of the ministry was the inspiration for many of her songs. 

In 1868, she went to speak in a Manhattan prison. While she was there, she overheard some of the prisoners cry out to the Lord, asking him not to pass them by. After that experience, she wrote, “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.” 

As you read the lyrics, you can feel the brokenness of the one speaking. There’s nothing they can offer the Lord; they are completely at his mercy. And yet, God is merciful, and he is all we need. 

Pass, me not O gentle Saviour,
Hear my humble cry.
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by. 

Saviour, Saviour,
Hear my humble cry.
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy,
Find a sweet relief.
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

Saviour, Saviour,
Hear my humble cry.
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face,
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.