She was 27 when she wrote “In Heavenly Love Abiding” in 1850, and she must have felt her life had been somewhat bumpy already, if her writing was a snapshot of her autobiography. But, she found a therapy. It was her writing, one might surmise, that was an extension of her meditation upon the blessing of having God. Maybe it was her best way to communicate, since she was reportedly shy, the owner of a placid personality. Her introspection offers you and me the chance to relate to Him personally, even as we sing this song among many others.
Anna Laetitia Waring was something of a prodigy and writer-in-waiting, probably from the moment she was conceived in Wales in 1823. Her father Elijah and an uncle Samuel were writers, who no doubt influenced Anna from a young age. Her sharp mind lent her the ability to grasp Hebrew as a youngster, so that she could read daily the Old Testament in its original language. You think maybe she picked up something about God consequently, in the same way that the people of Israel learned of Him? She had evidently seriously examined her faith, not blindly accepting her own family’s Quaker predilection, and as an adult being baptized into the Anglican Church of England. She published two works that contained dozens of her hymns, Hymns and Meditations in 1850 (in which “In Heavenly Love Abiding” appears) and Additional Hymns in 1858. She wasn’t content to be a mere intellect and writer, however. She also philanthropically engaged in prison ministry. Her hymn texts, particularly for “In Heavenly Love Abiding”, show she was a struggler with unnamed challenges. Nevertheless, she reached out to those less fortunate through the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society. Her hymns likewise reached out.
Waring may have been a shy, at times lonesome figure (she died never having been married), yet she knew what to do to combat those traits. Could they have been the source of her struggles, the ‘fear’, ‘storm’, ‘darkest clouds’, and missing ‘green pastures’ of which she wrote? If they were, she’s not alone in history – many people have struggled with loneliness, whatever the cause. Indeed, the Lord described Himself as ‘meek and lowly’ (Matthew 11:29) – sounds kinda like Anna Waring, doesn’t it? Anna drew strength from writing songs. She also examined herself, her characteristics, in hymn-writing, as one can sense if you read between the lines. ‘Don’t dwell on those dark feelings’ she says with her words, but rest in your future. That attitude, too, became a recognizable Anna Waring attribute. Now, just where do you suppose that part of her came from?
Information on the song was obtained from the books “Amazing Grace – 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions”, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, 1990; and “The Complete Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs”, by William J. and Ardythe Petersen, 2006. The following link is for a book of poetry “Hymns and Meditations” written by the composer, in which the hymn text appears:
More biographic information on composer:
Thank you for the History on Anna.
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