LBW #272, "Abide with Me"
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.
Devotion
"The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide." So goes the first verse of a hymn that was recently reintroduced to me by popular Christian musician Amy Grant. Those who fight with the darkness of depression, as I do, find some solace in these words of Henry F. Lyte (1793-1847). They are a reminder that God indeed does abide with us through all kinds of darkness in our lives and is a light to guide us on our way. This is especially helpful to remember during these dark days of winter as we wait ever so patiently for the sunny days of spring.
Prayer
Lighten our darkness, God of Light, and give us the hope that can only come through you. We give thanks for all the ways you sustain us. Amen.