Frances Jane Crosby (1820-1915; see Biographies), while meditating on the leading of Providence, was unexpectedly given $5 by a friend who called at the door. She was short of money at the time and needed this amount before she was able to draw money from her publishers. This experience awakened a train of thought that culminated in the writing of these words. They are a reminder that she wrote many of her hymns after a day’s jostling through the city streets, led by loving hands (she was blind) away from danger. The heading of the hymn when printed was: “So the Lord Alone Did Lead Him” (see Deut. 32:12).

Crosby sent the hymn to Robert Lowry (1826-1899; see Biographies), with whom she had become acquainted some nine years earlier, and whom she often consulted regarding the phrasing of a hymn. Lowry composed the tune, which now bears his name, especially for the words. It was printed in a Sunday school collection entitled Brightest and Best, 1875, edited by Lowry and William H. Doane (1832-1915; see Biographies).