Songs in the Night

Sunday, October 27, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.”

Job 35:10–13

Thomas Chisholm had a path for his life planned out. Born in Kentucky shortly after the Civil War, Chisholm chose, after his conversion, to train for the ministry. However, his pastoral career was cut short after just one year by serious health problems that left him unable to handle the responsibilities of the job. Rather than turning away from God in that darkness, Chisholm began writing poems. He eventually authored more than one thousand, including one of my favorites:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
And all I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

Heartaches, trials, and struggles should come as no surprise to us. We have the promise of Jesus that these difficulties and hardships will come: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The key for us to maintain joy and victory is found in seeing God’s hand in the events of our lives—and when we cannot see it, trusting Him anyway. Those Christians who follow this course are the ones who still have joy in their hearts and a song on their lips in hard times.

Today's Growth Principle: 

God is faithful to provide hope to us in the midst of our deepest sorrows and struggles.