The English hymnwriter, Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879), was vacationing in the south part of Wales in 1876 when she caught a severe cold, which resulted in inflammation of the lungs. She nearly died. She responded by saying, “If I am really going, it is too good to be true.” Her friends were amazed at the peacefulness by which she faced such dark days. She recovered, and borrowing the texts from Isaiah 26:3 and 48:18, she wrote the words to “Like a River Glorious.”
Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious in its bright increase;
Perfect yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect yet it groweth deeper all the way
Refrain
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,
Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest.
Ev’ry joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do—
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
Suffering from ill health, Frances died before she reached her 43rd birthday. Nevertheless, the peace that passeth all understanding kept her heart and mind as she entered into the presence of the Lord.
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