God Leads Us Along

I love hearing the stories of the hymns and songs that we sing. Many are forged out of great sorrow and grief, and many are written out of tremendous joy and rejoicing. George A Young was a preacher who made his living doing carpentry work. He and his wife eventually entered full-time ministry, going from small church to small church in rural areas. Their experiences were many-some good and some heartbreaking. Often those with whom they worked were too poor to help in supplying the needs of the preacher and his wife and family. George and his wife did not waver, saying "God is doing the leading all we have to do is follow. He will not forsake us in time of need and is also very much aware of our situation wherever we are."

After many years, the Youngs were able to scrape enough money together to buy a small lot and George began to build a small home for his family. It took them several years to complete the house. At last the day came, and the Young family moved into their own home, how wonderful it was! Then disaster struck while George and his family were away holding church services. It is thought that someone, not in sympathy with Young and his preaching and not in favor that the likes of him should have a home of his own, set fire to it. When the family returned, their home was a heap of ashes. All that George and his family had sacrificed for and dreamed of was now a memory.

As Mr. Young stood and looked at the ashes, his heart was sad but he found a deep consolation as he remembered the priceless things he possessed which could not be destroyed by fire. Perhaps, like Job, this could be an attack of Satan but he was not alone, for God was aware of it all. In his mind, words began to form -
     Tho' sorrows befall us and Satan oppose,
     God leads His dear children along.
     Some thro' the waters, some thro' the flood,
     Some thro' great sorrow, but God gives a song.
     In the night season and all the day long.

George A. Young had been given the beginning of a song in his deep night of despair-a song that would lift many burdens and give light and encouragement to untold thousands in the years ahead. Within a few days he had written three other verses and in 1903 God Leads Us Along was first published.