God Leads Us Along!

This beautiful hymn is one of my favorites!  When I sit down at the piano and play it, my heart is always blessed, comforted and encouraged as I meditate on the message of the song.  When I found the story behind the inspiration for the song, it became even more meaningful.  I trust it will be a blessing and encouragement to you today!

     "George Young, a carpenter, and his wife dedicated their lives to following the Lord, wherever He would lead.  'He does the leading', they often said, 'and we do the following.'  God led them to the rural Midwest and they traveled from church to church in revival efforts.  Their finances were always tight, but 'through the many years we never went hungry!'  Mrs. Young said years later --'Oh, sometimes we didn't have too much of this world's goods, but we always had so much of Jesus!'

      Finally they saved enough to buy a small piece of land on which George built a cottage.  Though small, it was the fulfillment of a life's dream, and when they moved in they dedicated the house to God, and sang the Doxology.  But some time later, when they were away on a ministry trip, a thug who had been offended by George's preaching set the house afire.  Returning home, the Young's found a heap of ashes.  All their worldly goods and cherished possessions were gone.

      As George gazed at the ruins, he recounted the precious possessions fire could never destroy -- his family, his relationship with Jesus, his ministry, his eternal home.  There and then, the words to "God leads us Along" began forming in his mind.  Within a few days, he had written all four stanzas.
      Years later, Dr. Haldor Lillenas, seeking to track down George's widow, drove to the small Kansas town where she resided.  Stopping for directions, he was alarmed to hear that Mrs. Young was living in the run-down County Poor House.  Lillenas was deeply troubled that the widow of the author of such a hymn about God's guidance should spend her final days in the Poor House.  But when he finally found her, Mrs. Young explained -- 'One day God took my sweet husband home.  Oh, how I missed him for we had always served the Lord together.  In my heart, I wondered --- where will God now lead me?  Dr. Lillenas, God led me here!  I'm so glad He did, for you know, about every month someone comes into this place to spend the rest of their days, and so many of them don't know my Jesus.  I'm having a blessed time introducing them to my Jesus!  Dr. Lillenas, isn't it wonderful how God leads?'"

     "In shady green pastures so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet, God leads His dear children along.
      Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.

      Though sorrows befall us and Satan oppose, God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes, God leads His dear children along.
      Away from the mire and away from the clay, God leads His dear children along;
Away up in glory, eternity's day, God leads His dear children along.

      Some thru the waters, some thru the flood,
Some thru the fire, but all thru the blood;
      Some thru great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season, and all the day long."