If we focus on that promise, when we are confronted with disaster, we will not be defeated. We will be enabled to live a victorious life as an overcomer.

When disaster came to Thomas A. Dorsey, the composer of "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," he was overcome with grief and declared he would not write music or sing again. But the Spirit of God intervened through a trusted friend and Dorsey wrote a masterpiece of music that has carried many a Christian through turmoil and fear:

"Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on help me stand.
I am tired, I am weak I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to your light.
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on."

Who was this man who wrote these words under much distress and sorrow? As a young boy, he followed his father and mother to church. His father was the preacher, his mother, the organist. To study his life is to see an example of one of God's greatest promises in the Bible:

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6).

In his teens he was rebellious but when he moved to Chicago he was drawn to the great revivals of Billy Sunday. There he recommitted his life to the Lord.

When he married his childhood sweetheart, Nettie, they remained in Chicago so that he could be a music director. One night he was to travel to St. Louis to sing in a revival. His wife, who was expecting their first child, insisted he go to fulfill a long time commitment.

However that night, he received a telegram that brought tragic news. Nettie had gone into early labor and died giving birth to Thomas A. Dorsey, Jr. He returned to Chicago to be with his son but the baby died before he got there. Mother and son were buried in the same casket.

It was a grief from which Dorsey seemed unable to recover. But through prayer and support from his friends, he slowly began to regain perspective. It took months for him to even sit at his piano. But it  was then that music flowed into his prayer, "Precious Lord, take my hand." It came from deep within his heart as he began the journey from disaster and grief to healing. Since those moments in 1932, millions of Christians have been touched by his hymn's majesty.

"Precious Lord, we see the evidence of your presence and healing power. Disasters can come quickly but we rest in the promise of your presence to redeem even the worst of experiences. Thank you for taking my grandsons' hand- and my hand- while you led us to safety. Thank you for healing the broken heart of Thomas  Dorsey with a beautiful song of assurance. In Jesus' name, Amen"

Lucy Neeley Adams  has always loved music. She began telling the story of hymns on Christian radio WWGM in Nashville, TN, in the '80s. She then wrote a newspaper column titled "Song Stories" for five years. During that time Lucy's book, 52 Hymn Story Devotions, was published by Abingdon Press in Nashville. Each of the 52 stories contained in the book is written in a devotional format, with the words of the hymn concluding each devotion.
Lucy, dubbed "The hymn lady," can be heard on the first Thursday of each month when she discusses hymn stories during a telephone interview with Michelle Mendoza of "Living Christian".  The program is aired on station  KCIS in Seattle, WA.
Lucy lives at Lake Junaluska, NC, with her minister husband, Woody. They have four children and fourteen grandchildren. She may be reached for comment at lucya424@aol.com. Visit her at 52hymns.com.