Close to me in the darkest hour.

That heartfelt plea echoes the cry of the psalmist and the promise of the Savior. It is a prayer for the intimate, comforting presence of God when all other light fails.

Here is a prayerful poem in response.

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Close to Me

When the shadows stretch and deepen,

And the promises seem broken,

When the familiar path is lost,

And I count the overwhelming cost.

When the voice of fear is loudest,

And my own strength is the slightest,

When the sun refuses to rise,

And tears are all that fill my eyes.

This is my prayer, my rawest plea,

My only hope—stay close to me.

Be close to me in the darkest time.

Not in a distant, cosmic way,

But as a shepherd with his stray.

Not as a theory,or a theme,

But as the living,flowing stream

That meets my parched and weary soul,

And makes the broken fragments whole.

Let me feel You in the stillness,

Conquer my inner chillness.

Be the anchor in the night,

My one and only certain light.

You promised You would never leave,

In this dark hour,I believe.

You are the God who sees my pain,

The Man of Sorrows,acquainted with my strain.

So I will not ask for the night to depart,

I only ask for Your near,beating heart.

I do not need the why,the when,

I only need You,my Lord. Amen.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

— Psalm 23:4

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

— Psalm 34:18