God moves in a mysterious way

William Cowper was born in the English countryside at Great Berkhampstead, Hartfordshire, England on November 26, 1731. His father was the rector of the parish and chaplain to George II. On his mother’s side he was a descendant of Henry III. His mother’s name was Anne Donne and died when William was six years old. This was a great blow to him because of his closeness to her and his need for her motherly attentions.

William became a lawyer in 1754 two years before his father passed away. He drifted from one job to another and about this time he became depressed and attempted suicide but the rope broke and he was spared for better things.

One evening he was picking his way among the gravestones of St. Margaret’s Church on his way home. It was a moonless night. The only sound heard was the recurring crunch of a pick digging a grave. Suddenly William felt his leg struck by an object. When he shined his lantern upon it to see what it was, it was a human skull! A terrible sense of fear and emptiness grappled him. What was the use of avoiding other fears since death was something he could not avoid?

When he was 33 years old, he sat in his garden reading Romans. Chapter 3:24-25 touched his heart which spoke of being justified by grace through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. He then rested on the blood, faith and laid hold of God’s salvation. Later when he was living in Olney he was shepherded by John Newton with whom he compiled the ‘Olney Hymns ‘.

William went to be with the Lord on April 25, 1800. He wrote these prophetic words about his death in this hymn he expressed so well:

‘Then, in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping stamm’ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave. (as originally written)

A truly living hymn that speaks through the ages. @Edwards: Our passion and interests is one of the ways in which God speaks to us. In addition to praying, I suggest make research about schools that have geography related courses such as geography, meteorology, earth and marine science, survey etc and change as soon as possible to be fulfilled. All the best.

This is one of my best hymns, ever inspiring any time am in low spirit. God speaks to me through the words of this hymn.

Truly a hymn to reassure that God is working and he is yet to make it plain... love this hymn, whenever I face trials I always sing it and stay calm.

This song is so soothing. To know that that though I go through sufferings the outcome shall be sweet.

Edward....l don't know you or your circumstances....but l truly love this poem also....my favorite!....I am a nurse.....love it....but know that it is not for everyone.....re: a college.....God's Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio....has a great curriculum for those interested in a comprehensive study of both the Old and New Testaments.....l wish you the best!

Before I was saved, I kept denying God's providence because I was too proud.

However, right before I was saved, I had to go to public school from private school because of my family's financial problem and because the private school was not that better than public school. I thought I was gonna be in private school for the 2nd year as well, but I realized that there must be God who is in control to let me go to public school. You know, even though I wished I could be in private school, I couldn't. 2 months after that, I was saved. That event helped me a lot to believe in God and accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior.

I am currently a nursing major in Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Even though it is a wonderful program, the Lord has shown me that I am really really interested in map and GPS when I was helping my dad find a destination in Sydney, Australia and I kept riding subway a lot by myself in Seoul, Korea and I kept walking a lot and found a lot of ways in Sydney and Seoul. Also, during last Christmas break, when my mom and I went to Book's A Million in my current hometown, instead of Anatomy or biology book, I kept looking at US travelling places, maps, national parks, etc. The Lord directed me to be interested in maps and various places on the earth to know about His creation, nature, meadow, woodland, forest, ocean, park, etc.

I also kept looking at Google Maps to find out where the students in BJU are from like CA, MD, AZ, PA, CT, ME, etc.

So my prayer is that the Lord would guide me to go to another college to study more about maps/geography more interestingly with more joy than nursing. For Bob Jones doesn't have geography.

Bob Jones University is a great college, and its nursing program is really great even throughout the United Staes, but the Lord started directing me to study more about geography to know about His omnipresence and marvellous creation.

I kept sinning because I kept forgetting that God is omnipresent to see me sinning, so I really desire to know more deeply that God is omnipresent in Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, Antartica, Greenland, and Arctic.

Lord, help me and guide me to go to another university that You want for me to learn about your omnipresence. This is my prayer. Through my 1st year of study in BJU in nursing, I thank You for teaching me about our body system that You created.

I pray that You would help me to bravely move to another college to learn about geography.

May Your name be praised and glorified as I study more about the earth, geography, and maps.

I used to keep these words on my office table. I read the whole spiritual poem/hymn many times, and it comforted me in times of anxiety and distress. I love this.