Songs of Encouragement: Abide with Me

By Brian Croft

Many of you know my story. I have been the Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church for seventeen years now. But the first five years were brutal. I endured three attempts to get my fired in those first five years. Although my story is one of renewed life and redemption in a dying church—it came at a price. The toll of those early years and the hostility I faced is hard to describe. It is an impact I still feel to this day. Sometimes I wonder how I survived. The obvious answer is God and the power of his sustaining grace, but how specifically did God pour that well-timed grace upon me?

Sometimes it was through a well-timed passage of Scripture the Lord uniquely brought to me in my morning reading. Other times it was through an encouraging word of a supportive church member, or the safe presence of a close friend who just held space for me in my suffering. Then, there were times God powerfully used music—a few timeless hymns we sang often in church. One of those is the classic hymn, Abide with Me.

Abide with Me was written by 19th century Anglican Minister, Henry Francis Lyte. Apparently, Lyte wrote this moving hymn just weeks before his death and it was first sung at his funeral. This hymn became a sweet balm to my soul in those very difficult, uncertain early years of ministry. It so beautifully reminds us of two important, timeless truths about God.

• God is always there whether in suffering, darkness, or even death.

• God’s presence is powerful enough to see us through the struggle.

Those first five years of facing the attacks and hostility in my church brought plenty of suffering and darkness. Singing this hymn, whether it was in the presence of my adversaries in a service, or in a dark moment of despair in my church office, these words reminded me God was there. God was with me and for me. God would sustain me. And he did.

Brothers and sisters, whatever darkness you find yourself in, whatever suffering you are enduring—the loving, powerful, unchanging God of the universe is with you and for you. Cry out to him. He will answer with his enduring presence. Read these words afresh now. Ask him to abide with you in these uncertain days. I am confident that he will.

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, O abide with me.

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.

I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

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.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes.
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.