1. Under His wings I am safely abiding, Tho the night deepens and tempests are wild; Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me, He has redeemed me and I am His child. 2. Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow! How the heart yearningly turns to His rest! Often when earth has no balm for my healing, There I find comfort, and there I am blessed. 3. Under His wings, O what precious enjoyment! There will I hide till life's trials are o'er; Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me, Resting in Jesus, I'm safe evermore. Chorus: Under His wings, under His wings, Who from His love can sever? Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever.
Lyrics:
William Orcutt Cushing
Music: Ira David Sankey
Tune: HINGHAM
Meter: 11.10.11.10. with Refrain
William O. Cushing, 1823–1902
The author of this hymn text, William Cushing, wrote these words as an expression of Psalm 17:8—“Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.” After pastoring several large churches, Cushing suddenly found that he could no longer preach. He had lost the power of speech. Broken in spirit, he cried out to God with the words of the psalmist. God answered by giving him the gift of writing. In all, William Cushing wrote more than 300 gospel hymns. “Under His Wings” first appeared in Ira Sankey’s Sacred Songs No. 1, published in 1896.