We often desire that our lives be lived without pain or discomfort. When it comes to us, is our reaction to rail against and question God for those trials? Anne Steele’s life was one that had significant pain and loss. She poured out her grief in her hymns and poems and remained steadfast in her faith in her heavenly Father. One such hymn that can buoy us up in time of trial is this one, Father, Whate’er of Earthly Bliss, even expressing to the point of being free of murmuring. Paul encourages us in II Corinthians 1:3,4 that we are able to comfort one another with the comfort our God and Father gives us. Anne Steele saw that and lived it and passed it along in her hymnody. Article taken from Living Stories of Famous Hymns by Ernest K. Emurian. Copyright © 1955 by Baker Book House Company. Used by permission of Baker Book House Company.