Joseph Scriven was born in 1819 in Ireland. Things seemed to be going on well - he fell in love with a young woman and they planned to marry. But tragedy struck . The evening before the wedding the bride drowned.
Following this, Joseph moved to a teaching post in Port Hope Canada. He again became engaged and once more, just before the wedding, his bride became ill and died.
In 1855, his mother back in Ireland also became ill and to encourage her, he wrote a poem.
Such words, as in the poem, were easy for Joseph to write for he had known sorrow and pain. His whole life had been devoted to caring for the sick and needy. But in the end, it all became too much; his spirit and finances went into a steep decline.
Late one night, 10th August 1886, poor Joseph was deeply depressed. He was left alone whilst a friend stayed in an adjoining room. Later, when the friend went to check if Jospeh was all right, he was surprised to see the room empty.
A search was made but it wasn't until the middle of the following day that Josephs' body was found, lying in some water.
To this day, it is not known if his death was an accident, murder or suicide. As for the poem he wrote to his mother he did not have any intentions nor dream that it would be published and become a favorite hymn for millions of Christians around the world over the years.