You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

Prayer Is the Key

How sweet to hide ourselves away

Author: Fanny J. Crosby
Published in 6 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 How sweet to hide ourselves away
Where only God is near,
And breathe our inmost secret tho’ts
Where only He can hear.

Refrain:
Pray;r is the key, the only key,
To heav’n’s unfailing store;
Faith is the hand that guides our own,
But pray’r unlocks the door.

2 There’s not a wound that sorrow gives,—
There’s not a pain we feel—
But if we go to God in pray’r,
His love will gently heal. [Refrain]

3 How oft in pray’r a sudden light
Breaks forth thro’ clouded skies,
And on its beams, to Him we love,
Our longing souls arise. [Refrain]

4 In pray’r we find a calm relief,
From every throb of pain;
And they who trust in Christ, our Lord,
Shall never trust in vain. [Refrain]

Source: Northfield Hymnal: for use in evangelistic and church services, conventions, sunday schools, and all prayer and social meetings of the church and home #39

Author: Fanny J. Crosby

Pseudonymns: A.V., Mrs. A. E. Andrews, Mrs. E. A. Andrews, Mrs. E. L. Andrews, James L. Black, Henrietta E. Blair, Charles Bruce, Robert Bruce, Leah Carlton, Eleanor Craddock, Lyman G. Cuyler, D.H.W., Ella Dare, Ellen Dare, Mrs. Ellen Douglass, Lizzie Edwards. Miss Grace Elliot, Grace J. Frances, Victoria Frances, Jennie Garnett, Frank Gould, H. D. K., Frances Hope, Annie L. James, Martha J. Lankton [Langton], Grace Lindsey, Maud Marion, Sallie Martin, Wilson Meade, Alice Monteith, Martha C. Oliver, Mrs. N. D. Plume, Kate Smiley, Sallie Smith, J. L. Sterling, John Sterling, Julia Sterling, Anna C. Storey, Victoria Stuart, Ida Scott Taylor, Mary R. Tilden, Mrs. J. B. Thresher, Hope Tryaway, Grace Tureman, Carrie M. Wilson, W.H.D. Frances… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: How sweet to hide ourselves away
Title: Prayer Is the Key
Author: Fanny J. Crosby
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Prayer is the key, the only key
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 6 of 6)
Audio

Favorites Number 5 #48

Page Scan

Gospel Melodies New and Old #146

TextAudioPage Scan

Northfield Hymnal #39

Songs that Touch the Heart. Vol. 3 #d7

Songs that Touch the Heart. Vol. 4 #d12

Special Sacred Selections #263

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.