There are times in life when we feel alone. Perhaps someone we love has left us. Perhaps someone we trust has disappointed us. Perhaps someone we care for is facing terrible pain, and it seems there is nothing we can do to help them. Perhaps we, ourselves, are facing pain or loss or shame. This loneliness is how we feel, but no matter how we feel,  we are never actually alone. God is near in the darkest nighttimes of our life. He calls to us in love. He comes to us in all we know of Jesus. He lives in us, the Holy Spirit, comforting and counseling us. Truly we are never, never alone. Truly we have with us always, our loving Heavenly Father, our redeeming Savior and our quickening, strengthening Comforter.

Because God is with us, we have life. We have hope. We have joy. These are ours to share. Everywhere we are are, everywhere we go, everywhere–there are people with no real life because they have no real hope nor joy. They are searching, they are crying out alone. We know who they need. We know who can give them light in their darkness. We must show Him to them. We must tell His story. We must bring them to Him. God will love them even as He loves us. Jesus will redeem them even as He redeems us. The Holy Spirit will keep them even as He keeps us. This is our opportunity. This is our responsibility. This is our answer to His question, “Do you hear me calling in the night?” This is our answer to their question, “Do you hear us calling in the night?

I

Do you hear me calling in the night?
Down in the deepest shadows of your heart
Where every reality lingers
And there are no hidden feelings
Sheltering in the dark—
Do you, child, hear your own dear Father
Calling out in holy love and affection
In the night?

Do you hear me calling in the night?
I am reminding you of who I am—
All that makes delight in you arises
Deep in me for I have made you free,
A genuine revelation
Expressing Me—in liberty you can
Join the heavens and proclaim my grace
And majesty.

You can, eloquent, extol my glory—
Exploring the wonder of your joy
Following further the pathways
Each day, the exhilarating vistas
I reveal as you, faithful,
Boldly walk the way I lead, your heart
Attuned, no matter the distractions this
World may raise.

II

Do you hear me calling in the night?
I am Immanuel, truly God, fully man,
Eternity sleeping on the
Ground right there beside you, eating fish
By the sea, warmed by
The fire we share, thrilled when the sun
Rises once again over us
Victorious.

Do you hear me calling in the night?
My voice penetrating your heart with answers
By the fire after the sun goes down,
Exploring Truth from our Father,
Considering His Kingdom
Coming clear for you to grasp—
Extending my hands reaching
Out for yours.

Do you hear me calling in the night?
Though you feel lost on a storm-tossed sea I come
Even before you call, I come
Calling, “Have no fear, it is I.” I
Rebuke winds, they die, hear
The peace I command—in my
Hands you are safe on the sea or
On the land.

III

Do you hear me calling in the night?
Here, right here, deep, deep down in your heart I am
The Comforter, Counselor,
Consolation, Inspiration,
Resurrecting power raising up
Your revelation, glory
And joy risen, walking with you
In the garden.

Do you hear me calling in the night?
I whisper deep, deep down in your tender heart
The Way Jesus will set you free,
The Truth Jesus speaks—precious Word,
The Life Jesus lives and gives
For I am God’s voice in you,
I speak His love lifting up,
Enfolding you.

Do you hear me calling in the night?
When your day intimidates, when your way
Becomes impossible, do not fear
For I am here inside of you—
God’s guarantee—you, indeed,
Are secure, all will be well—
God will be glorified,
You will discover His own
Joy, peace and love.

IV

Do you hear us calling in the night?
When your day is done and your mind is slowing
Down to reconsider all
The sights you have seen and the
Voices you have heard, along
With the good and the bad
You have done during your day—
We who are dying,
We who are lost?

Do you hear us calling in the night?
We, who wonder what goes on in your church,
Who wonder why you spend
So much time together there
While we go rushing by
Our lives so often such
A mess—do you notice
All us dying people
Passing by?

Do you hear us calling in the night?
We who live and die with no hope all around
This world where babies hunger
Though their parents work
So hard late into the night—
Where wars and persecution
Kill us for no purpose
Do you have Good News
For us?

M.S.
October 18, 2019

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how are they to believe in him
of whom they have not heard?
And how are they to hear
without someone preaching?
And how are they to preach
unless they are sent?
As it is written,
“How beautiful are the feet
of those who preach the good news!”

Romans 10: 14-15