In her autobiography, Crosby wrote that this was her first hymn to be set to music by Lowry.

[1] The hymn was first published in Brightest and best : a choice collection of new songs, duets, choruses, invocation and benediction hymns for the Sunday school and meetings of prayer and praise (edited by Dr. Lowry and W. Howard Doane) in 1875 by the New York publisher Biglow & Main.

A frequently told story about this hymn relates that it came to Fanny as a result of a prayer.

A few minutes later, a gentleman offered her five dollars, the exact amount she needed.

Later recalling the incident, she said, "I have no way of accounting for this except to believe that God put it into the heart of this good man to bring the money."