You are With Me
Words and Music by Mary Beth DiAngelo
The Story Behind the Song:
My husband had passed away in April of 2014. In the months following, I had a hard time focusing on much of anything. I tried to keep up with daily bible reading, but I knew I was struggling. I was feeling very vulnerable, very alone and very prone to faltering and falling. Being drawn to Psalm 46, I was reading it multiple days in a row. Psalm 46:4 reads “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall. He will help her at the break of day.” As I was reading that on successive nights, I was thinking I don’t really understand what that means. On one of those nights, I heard that voice, not audible, but definitive, “Read that again.” So I backed up and looked at it another time, “…the holy place where the Most High dwells…”
He said to me, ‘YOU… are that holy place where the Most High dwells. I am within you, you will not fall, for I will uphold you. I will be your help.” Yet again, I began to bawl. By the power of His redeeming blood, He has transformed me into that holy place where the Most High dwells. How amazing is His love and grace that He chooses to dwell in us, clean us up and offer us His strong hand to help & uphold us. Colossians 1:27 speaks of God choosing to make known the mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
In contemplating what He spoke to me, I began to read, recite & pray through the psalm. Then I began to sing it as well. It has ministered to me so much especially during that time in my life, but even now as well.. I pray that you too may be ministered by this song, the way it has encouraged me.
Song: You Are With Me
Chorus: You are my refuge and my strength.
You are my ever-present help, oh
You are the peace within my soul, for I know that you are with me
Yes I know that you are with me!
Verse 1: Even though I walk through the dark valley
I will not fear though troubles come my way.
I will be still and know that You are God.
Great is Your Name, forever You will reign!
Verse 2: Jesus You alone are worthy of all praise
There’s nothing in this world that can compare.
You bore my sin, my shame and all my sorrow
You offer hope, I’ll trust in You alone!
Bridge: You uphold me with Your right hand,
You will finish what You started
You called me home from wandering and filled my with Your song!