My dad’s favorite hymn is Abide With Me ‘Tis Eventide. I remember him talking about it and listening to it often. My dad’s life wasn’t easy, and I could tell this song had brought him peace and comfort more than once during his lifetime; as I went through my own trials, I often found that same peace and comfort in this hymn just as my dad had.

A few nights ago I had just gotten the kids to bed. I tidied the house, turned on the fireplace put my feet up, and then…the lights went out. It was pitch black, half the city had lost power so even the street lights were out, and the moon was nowhere to be seen.

Within a minute or two, I heard the worried voices of my girls calling down the hall. I made my way down the hall to their bedroom and explained that the power was out, it would be back on soon, everything was OK and they could close their eyes and go to sleep. 

But they were still scared and asked me if I would stay with them until they fell asleep; of course, I did. And as I sat there in the dark and quiet, I thought about the times when I have been left in the dark. Lonely, afraid. And I asked my Savior to come and sit with me.

So I ask: What is your night?

Is it depression? Loss? Anxiety? Unemployment? An addiction? Fear? Helping a child who is struggling with a trial? Whatever your night looks like or how long it lasts, ask the Savior to sit with you.

Whether you have been with Him through the day or it has been a while since you’ve been in His presence, ask Him to sit with you.

Whether you need Him because of mistakes you have made, mistakes of others, or the hardships of life, ask Him to sit with you.

Whether you know He is there or doubt that He will come, ask Him to sit with you. 

Whether you have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ or you feel unworthy to be in His presence, ask Him to sit with you.

Ask Him to sit with you because, like my girls who were scared of the dark, you need Him. Ask Him to sit with you, and He will.

Some nights are lonely and dark and at times, even terrifying. But the morning always comes, and there is always Someone who will sit with you and bring hope and light and comfort till the darkness subsides.

As Neil L. Anderson said, “Your dark night will pass, because ‘the Son … [did rise] with healing in his wings.'”

I have been through my share of dark nights, as I’m sure you have, and through each of them I reached out to my Savior and asked, sometimes begged Him to come and stay with me. And every time, He did. Sometimes, it took me longer to recognize Him, but He always came and I promise that He will abide with you when your night comes, too.

Abide With Me ‘Tis Eventide

Lyrics by: M. Lowrie Hofford Music by: Harrison Millard

Abide with me; ’tis eventide.
The day is past and gone;
The shadows of the evening fall;
The night is coming on.
Within my heart a welcome guest,
Within my home abide.

O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, ’tis eventide.
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, ’tis eventide.

Abide with me; ’tis eventide.
Thy walk today with me
Has made my heart within me burn,
As I communed with thee.
Thy earnest words have filled my soul
And kept me near thy side.

Abide with me; ’tis eventide,
And lone will be the night
If I cannot commune with thee
Nor find in thee my light.
The darkness of the world, I fear,
Would in my home abide.