I WILL BE THERE

(God's Promise to Believers When They Find
Themselves Abandoned by Someone They Love)

By William McDonald, PhD. Copright pending

I was listening to a segment of Night Sounds Radio recently, and the topic happened to be Abandonment, a subject with which I can easily identify; since a number of my students, clients and interns with whom I developed a comradery, after a little season, and without so much as a word, chose to go their own way.

And it is no 'stretch' to assure you, at such times as these, that I have felt a great deal of companionship with Jesus, and the scenario in which many of His outer circle "kicked Him to the curb."

And as a result of the devastation He experienced, our Lord looked at the Twelve, and asked,

"Will you also go away?"

And I think the human side of the God-man exemplified itself more so here, than at any other time in the New Testament Gospels.

As the radio program to which I referred continued, the late Bill Pearce "set up" the next song with the following disclaimer:

"A few years ago, I was at a particular religious gathering, and a young man took the stage, and sang, perhaps, the most poignant song I have ever heard.

As I spoke to him later, he shared how that just before he performed, he had received a call from his wife. She informed him that she was leaving, and was taking their two small daughters with her.

After receiving news like this, I cannot tell you how this young man summoned up the wherewithal to perform for the audience. It's obvious that he leaned hard on the Lord at that moment; since there is no other way he could have navigated that very worst moment of his life, and expressed such vulnerability with his audience.

Later, this young vocalist sent me an audio tape of the song, and I'd like to share it with you now."

(My note: Try as I might, I could not find the lyrics of this song on the internet or YouTube. But since it so greatly impacted me, I sat down with a 'saved' version of the broadcast, and played the hymn again, and again, 'til I was able to transcribe the entire rendition).

I WILL BE THERE
(Author Unknown)

Where can you go that I can’t see?
On the highest of mountains
In the heat of the desert
In the life-consuming deep
and lonely heart of life’s seas

Where can you hurt that I can’t feel?
When you feel like you’re dying
Need a shoulder for crying
Come to me. I’m waiting here
with open arms that can heal

I’ll be a Father to the fatherless
A faithful Friend
when none are there
My heart of love is fathomless
and it reaches anywhere

I will be there through
the long lonely nights
never letting you go
I will hold. I will love you
with all my might
I will be there. I will be there. I will be there

I will be there, and I want you to know
I will never leave you alone
I’ll never go. I’ll never go. I will never let you go
I will be there. I will be there. I will be there

What can you feel that I can’t bear?
Any burden you’re bearing
Any sorrow you carry
Any heartache, any loneliness
or despair

What can you see that I can’t see?
Even death was defeated
all the work was completed
I’ve prepared a special place
here in my heart just for you

I’ll be a husband to the husbandless
A faithful Friend
when none are there
Inside my heart of love is faithfulness
and it reaches anywhere

I will be there through
the long lonely nights
never letting you go
I will hold. I will love you
with all my might
I will be there. I will be there. I will be there

I will be there, and I want you to know
I will never leave you alone
I’ll never go. I’ll never go. I will never let you go
I will be there. I will be there. I will be there