Jesus Is with You
In the quiet of the night
when doubts creep in
and take control,
when you wonder
if God is really good,
his word is really true,
if his love never fails.
When it seems like
everything has faded away,
you in the darkness,
fear your only friend,
your theology
no longer comforts,
experience screams
“You are alone,”
your doubt such a heavy weight
you feel it may crush you.
When night of the soul falls
you are not alone.
When the escape of death
is more attractive
than the long travail of life.
When guilt assaults
and shame betrays.
When lies silence truth
and everything once sure
floats in a pool of uncertainty.
When you don’t know
who you are or what you’re doing.
When night of the soul falls
you are not alone.
The One who is with you
in the light
is always with you
in the darkness.
The One who suffered for you
never leaves you
when you suffer.
The One who faced the enemy
on your behalf
won’t turn away when he attacks.
The One who never lied
will silence the enemy’s lies.
The One who was rejected
will never reject you.
The One who was God’s provision
will provide for you.
When night of the soul falls
you are not alone.
Jesus is with you in
the darkness.
Jesus is with you in
confusion’s cloud.
Jesus is with you when
doubt’s burden is heavy.
Jesus is with you in
guilt’s shame.
Jesus is with you when
strength fades.
Jesus is with you in
the soul’s winter.
Jesus is with you.
Jesus is with you.
This is the promise of grace.
“So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ The Lord your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the Lord has spoken. And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
(Deuteronomy 31:1-8)
A Prayer for Today: God, help me and comfort me when the dark night of the soul falls. Help me to know that I am not alone. Help me to trust you in the midst of doubt, confusion, frustration, and pain. Help me to know that you understand everything that I am going through, and help me to trust you when I lack the strength to be faithful. You are always faithful to me despite my own fickleness. I love you and I’m grateful for that. In your holy name I pray, Lord Jesus, amen.
God bless,
Paul Tripp
Discussion Prompt for Children:
• Are you and I ever truly alone? Why or why not?
• How can we know that Jesus understands when we’re going through hard times that make us sad, scared, lonely, or upset?
Reflection Questions
1. Even when it’s extremely difficult to believe, why can we always lean on the promise that Jesus is with us? Why do you think it’s so easy for us to forget that fact?
2. What specific lies have you listened to that have silenced the truth about who God is and what his character is truly like? How has the uncertainty of life crafted a false view of God for you? How has the night of the soul fallen in a way that has drained you of hope?
3. Why is it so vital to consistently remind yourself that you are not alone and Jesus understands everything that you’re going through? In what ways has God’s nearness comforted you in the past? What did his nearness look like specifically?
4. Why is there hope in the fact that when you are weak, Christ is strong?