This hymn draws inspiration from Deuteronomy 33:27, which speaks of God as our eternal refuge, with His everlasting arms beneath us. The tune was written when Anthony J. Showalter, after consoling two grieving friends who had lost their wives, found solace in that same scripture. He composed the music and refrain and asked Elisha Hoffman to write the verses. First published in 1887, this hymn’s message centers on the comforting assurance that God’s protection dispels our fears, bringing us lasting peace.
