Abide With Me

This week. Has. Been. Brutal.

I won’t get into all of the gory details, but let’s just say I have gotten ZERO sleep and am more than ready for my husband to be home this evening. He cannot get here soon enough – too bad that won’t be until after my bedtime…Although, it’s quite safe to say I will be waiting up for him with no issue at all tonight.

I have pondered all day long about what to post here…and then I decided to implant my headphones and enjoy some traditional, old hymns at my desk to soothe my soul and relax my mind… and what should appear toward the top of my playlist but one of my favorites, “Abide With Me“. I knew then and there this is what I should share with you today.

Here are its heart-wrenchingly beautiful lyrics:

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
   The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
   When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
   Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
   Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
   Change and decay in all around I see—
   O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
3. I need Thy presence every passing hour;
   What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
   Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
   Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
   Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
   Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
   I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
5. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
   Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
   Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
   In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Ah, those words.

The lyricist, Henry Lyte, was dying when he wrote these beautiful words, and passed away only a few weeks after he completed them. I can imagine he went to his final rest with confidence, faith and peace.

There is no comfort like the Lord – in death or in life, upon waking or sleeping. “O Lord, abide with me.”

{Yes, you have to view that video in a browser 🙂 }

I think sometimes we forget that Jesus is always there. The Holy Spirit is always alive in our hearts. We have nothing to fear, as long as we have Him.

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The second part of that fourth verse is key: “I fear no evil, for You are with me.“

I know those words give me peace and comfort and a renewed love for our Heavenly Father. Just thinking of Him as a father in this sense is a great comfort –

After all, when your earthly father is around, are you ever afraid? I know I’m not.

Have a wonderful night, friends.

In Christ,