Published: May 29, 2008 12:00 pm            

Hymns: 'God Leads His Dear Children Along'

Haldor Lillenas, founder of a great music publishing company, was born on the small island of Bergen, Norway, on Nov. 19, 1885.

At the age of 2, he immigrated with his mother and two brothers to America. They settled in Colton, S.D.

As with any immigrant, his first years in this country were hard. He could not speak the language and he had no friends.

He started a new life in a strange land hoping to make a success of his new beginning.

He met a fine lady who befriended him, and taught him the English language.

Perhaps more importantly, she told him the story of Christ, and led him to know the Lord as his savior at the age of 21.

Many times she sang him a comforting song titled "God Leads His Dear Children Along."

For many years his mind would go back to this sweet old lady and the song she sang to him in his time of loneliness and need, and how it changed his life and gave him hope.

He decided to find out something about its writer, George A. Young.

He discovered that Young had passed away, but his widow was living in a nearby town.

Lillenas drove to the little town and found her living in a little run-down house.

She sat down and told him the story of how her husband had written the song.

His excitement mounted as she told this story:

"My husband and I were married while we were very young. God gave us a wonderful life together. He led us from day to day.

"We prayed together, we worshiped together, and God moved through the Holy Spirit, and put a song in my husband's heart that has helped people all over the world to deal with tragedy in their lives.

"The text was probably taken from Isaiah 43:2. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

"Psalm 24:4 tells us that David had experienced these tidal waves of grief, and had God not been on his side, the waters would have overwhelmed his soul."

George Young was an obscure 19th century preacher and carpenter who spent a lifetime humbly serving the Lord in small rural communities.

Often his financial support was small, and it was hard on his family. But through all the ups and downs his faithful wife never wavered in her loyalty to God and to her husband.

After a long struggle, the family was able to move into their own small home (which George built himself).

But then, on an occasion when George was away preaching, some local thugs - who didn't like his Gospel preaching - set fire to the house, and it was totally destroyed.

It was out of that experience that Young reaffirmed his faith in God by writing "God Leads His Dear Children Along."

His wife then related to Lillenas how God took her husband home to be with Him, but she was not bitter.

She said, "God has led me here to this small town, and I am so glad about it. God has used me in this place. Isn't it wonderful that God leads His children day-by-day and step-by-step? Many people come to this country, and they are so sad and in such great need. They need help and comfort. I have been able to cheer many of them, and lead scores to the Lord Jesus Christ. How thankful I am that God brought me to this place to minister to so many in need."

Haldor Lillenas was deeply moved by Mrs. Young's words, and excited that he had found more than just a story behind a hymn, but had found a Christian woman completely surrendered to God's will in her life.

While we don't know much about George A. Young, we are sure that he left us one of the most beautiful hymns ever written.



Stories Behind the Hymns is taken from "104 Of My Favorite Hymn Stories, Vols. I and II," written by Warren Shiver of Biscoe. He can be reached by e-mail at wshiver99@embarqmail.com or by snail mail at P.O. Box 775, Biscoe, NC 27209. The book is available for $14.95 plus $3 shipping. Shipping is free for readers of The Randolph Guide.

        

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