Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

The eternal God is your refuge,

And underneath are the everlasting arms.

Deuteronomy 33:27 

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms was my second favorite hymn growing up in the church, running a close second to Blessed Assurance.  The author, Anthony Showalter was sending condolences to two sets of grieving friends, and included this text from Deuteronomy. 

As he thought about this verse, a tune came into his head, and he wrote out the refrain of the hymn we now have.  Showalter asked his friend, Elisha Hoffman, to write the stanzas and finish the hymn.  With these two men working together on words and music, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms was published in 1887.

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What a blessedness what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms.

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.

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Bill & Gloria Gaither Live