O Safe to the Rock That Is Higher Than I

The life of William Orcutt Cushing is one marked by devotion, personal trial, and unwavering faith—qualities that deeply inform the tone and message of “Hiding in Thee.” Born on December 31, 1823, in Hingham, Massachusetts, Cushing was raised in a devout Christian home and entered the ministry of the Disciples of Christ at an early age. For over twenty years, he served as a pastor in several New York towns, including Auburn and Buffalo. During his ministry, he became known for his compassionate spirit and skillful preaching. However, in his mid-forties, Cushing experienced a devastating blow—he lost his voice due to a serious illness, rendering him unable to continue preaching. The forced end to his pastoral work was an emotional and spiritual trial, yet instead of withdrawing from ministry altogether, he turned to writing hymns as a new way to communicate his enduring faith. Over the next decades of his life, he would pen more than 300 hymns, including well-known titles like Under His Wings and There’ll Be No Dark Valley. Hiding in Thee is among his most personal and enduring, stemming directly from the emotional turmoil and need for spiritual refuge that marked this phase of his life.

The hymn “Hiding in Thee” was written in 1876 during a season of introspection and spiritual renewal. According to Cushing himself, the idea for the hymn arose from deep reflection on Psalm 61:2, which reads, “When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” The verse captured his heart, resonating with his own sense of helplessness and longing for God’s strength after the loss of his voice. He wrote the lyrics with great emotion, expressing both the trials he had experienced and the peace he had found in God’s protection. The original title of the hymn, O Safe to the Rock That Is Higher Than I, is drawn directly from the Psalm and highlights the core theme of divine refuge. After writing the lyrics, Cushing sent them to Ira D. Sankey, the famous gospel singer and composer closely associated with Dwight L. Moody. Sankey was so moved by the words that he set them to music himself and included the hymn in the influential collection Sacred Songs and Solos. The pairing of Cushing’s heartfelt poetry with Sankey’s tender, flowing melody gave the hymn a warm, accessible quality that made it an instant favorite in revival meetings and evangelical churches across America and Great Britain.

The hymn’s enduring power lies in its universal message of comfort, especially in times of grief, fear, or emotional upheaval. Each stanza echoes a believer’s plea for shelter, repeating the refrain, “Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee, thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.” The progression of the verses—from storms of life, to sorrow of the heart, to memories of sin—gives voice to the full spectrum of human vulnerability. Yet rather than remain in despair, the song points resolutely to Christ, the “Rock of Ages,” as the unshakable foundation and place of safety. It offers not only solace but a declaration of faith in God's unchanging nature. For this reason, Hiding in Thee has remained in regular use for nearly 150 years in both Protestant and evangelical hymnals. It speaks to a common human need for refuge in God amid the trials of life. The personal experience behind the hymn—Cushing’s own heartache and faith—adds depth and authenticity that still resonates with congregations today. In his quiet suffering and redirected calling, William O. Cushing gave the church a gift: a hymn that helps Christians across generations draw near to the Rock that is higher than all human frailty.