In Heavenly Love Abiding

The Story Behind "In Heavenly Love Abiding"

Ana Laetitia Waring wrote the words to “In Heavenly Love Abiding.” She grew up in Wales and later lived in England, where she wrote hymns and devotional poetry. While she was somewhat private, she did publish collections that expressed her personal faith and trust in God. “In Heavenly Love Abiding” appeared in her 1850 collection Hymns and Meditations. She didn’t write it as a hymn originally, but a personal statement of her quiet and abiding trust in God.

Waring lived much of her life in obscurity rather than public ministry. Yet her collections found an audience within the Christian community, her writing containing honest and simple thoughts based on biblical truth.

The tune most commonly associated with the hymn is “Penlan,” composed by Stanley Oakeley in the later 1800s, long after Waring wrote the poem. As happened often with older hymns, the lyrics were put to common or popular melodies, easily done since much of the poetry had similar rhythms and meter. These common tunes helped congregations quickly learn a newer hymn. “Penlan” has a gentle melody that reinforces the hymn’s message of trusting God’s care in life.

“In Heavenly Love Abiding” survives as Waring’s most popular hymn.
 

What Inspired the Message of “In Heavenly Love Abiding”?

Anna Waring used her own personal faith and meditations on Scripture to inspire her writing, including “In Heavenly Love Abiding.” One singular event didn’t influence the song; instead, the song expresses a life continually trusting God’s care in current hard times and rejoicing in the secure and abundant hope of the future.

The language and imagery of the hymn connect with Psalm 23 and other biblical passages pointing to God or Christ as a shepherd, one who leads, restores, and provides. Waring expressed these themes with lines like “I have a Shepherd watching over me.” Other lines echo the divine assurance found in verses like Romans 8, which declare that nothing can separate the believer from God’s abundant love. These Scriptures inform the main message of the hymn. God’s love provides for and secures those who follow Jesus in every situation.

Though Waring lived a quiet and relatively secluded life, many Christians connect with her writing. Within the ordinary lives tested by changes and difficulties, believers can trust God is in control, loves us, and will keep his promises. Waring’s character influences the hymn’s calm and steady tone. She doesn’t plead for rescue or deliverance but states her confidence, settled in Christ. God is already sovereign over every path, and his love surrounds his people.
 

How Have Churches Used This Hymn Over Time?

With its publication in 1850, “In Heavenly Love Abiding” has inspired and comforted believers with its message of trust in God. Over time and with an added tune, the devotional poem became a hymn, moving from a private reflection to public worship. And congregations began to embrace this hymn by 1900.

Into the early 20th century, churches started including the song in hymnals across Britain first and then later in the US. The simple structure without a refrain, the poetic language, and the common tune made it easy for congregations to learn and sing. Churches would use it during worship services, especially in moments calling for the people to meditate on God’s steady guidance and provision. The tone of the lyrics also fit with readings in the Psalms and sermons on God’s providence in the Christian life.

Pastors and worship leaders also employed the hymn during times of hardship. Churches might sing it at funerals, memorial services, and other gatherings. It’s a gentler tune, and the lyrics offer comfort and hope. Looking to God as the Shepherd invites believers to confess and rest in faith during times of sorrow.

In more recent times, traditional and liturgical churches continue to include the hymn in their services, often placing it alongside readings like Psalm 23. Contemporary churches lean more toward modern worship songs. However, many churches still draw on “In Heavenly Love Abiding,” and even younger believers have enjoyed rediscovering these older hymns and reimagining them with modern arrangements and instruments.

What Can We Learn about God’s Love from “In Heavenly Love Abiding”?

The primary theme of the song is divine security. Those who abide in God’s love are safe despite the outward appearance or current conditions. Waring writes of her trust with confidence and peace, not frenzy or overcompensating with emotionalism. Danger, loss, or hardship can’t shake believers because God holds us in his hand. The world calls us to trust in our own power or intellect; true security lies within God’s love and sovereignty. He will fulfill his good promises to us.

God’s care isn’t distant, however. He personally guides each and all his people. The hymn expresses God as a good Shepherd who guards and leads his sheep, or his people. Even when the journey seems uncertain or too difficult, the Father directs our every step. His heavenly love will not lead us to destruction but life and the green pastures. We can trust God in the moment for provision and for the future. We may not have full understanding now, but we continue to walk in faith, believing his wisdom and compassion won’t fail us.

Thirdly, Waring expresses a peace we can have in the midst of hardship. As we’ve discussed, the hymn doesn’t deny life brings trials our way. Even Jesus said we would have trouble in this life. But he also said he has overcome the world (John 16:33). Sometimes God may deliver us from trials; yet he more commonly walks with us through the troubles, our faith shining in the darkness as we bless instead of curse, love instead of hate, forgive and reconcile. We only have this ability through God’s nearness and faithfulness. His intimacy comforts and strengthens us today.

Such trust and understanding in his sovereignty keep us from needless striving. The hymn urges us to surrender to God’s heavenly love and care. We can release our control—useless anyway—and accept God’s good and perfect will, knowing he leads us to eternal life. Our control brings anxiety. Relying upon God brings us peace and contentment. 

In these ways, we anchor our lives in the heavenly reality, something which can’t change.

Therefore, the hymn points us to the nature of God’s love. God’s heavenly love doesn’t work like the world’s does. The world builds love based on conditions or emotions or transactional, mutual benefits. These things have no security or foundation. The world’s love rises and falls, always disappoints and fails.

God’s love flows from his own being and nature. He is love. His love remains constant and faithful. It doesn’t depend on our worthiness or ability or situation. The Father’s love holds us steady when everything else fails and changes. God offers us a heavenly source of love totally apart (holy) from the fragile and empty ways of the world.

Peace.
 

Popular Hymn Lyrics with Story and Meaning

Day by Day and With Each Passing Moment
Jesus Loves Me
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Blessed Assurance
Nearer My God to Thee
Abide with Me
His Eye Is On the Sparrow
Be Thou My Vision
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty
Amazing Grace
And more!