This hymn based on Isaiah 41:10 is one of three winners of the 2021 SOCHS – RCCO Centre Hymn Competition (Southern Ontario Chapter of the Hymn Society – Royal Canadian College of Organists), taking top honours for Original Hymn Text and Tune with piano or instruments other than organ.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube featuring vocals and piano by Chris Fischer. Many thanks for their contributions.

Click here to watch the instrumental video on YouTube. This video might be suitable for leading congregational singing.

Click  here to download the lyrics.

Click here to download a lyrics and chords version

Click here to download the accompaniment version.

Click here to download a ChordPro version.

Click here to listen to this song on Apple Music.

Click here to listen to this song on Spotify.

Click here to link to the song as found on the Methodist Church (UK) website, Singing the Faith Plus, which includes comments about the song and suggestions for us in worship.

Feel free to use this hymn but please report congregational use to One License or CCLI.

Words and Music: David Kai © 2021

Tune: Schreiber (see note below)

Chorus:

Fear not, for I am with you,

Be not dismayed, for I am near,

I will strengthen, I will help you,

Uphold you, cast away your fear.

In the night of weeping I am with you,

Holding ‘til you reach the morning bright,

In the day of storms I am beside you,

Guiding ‘til you find the rainbow’s light.

Chorus:

Enemies surround you, do not fear them,

They can never harm the hope within,

Friends will soon abound to hold, support you,

Love in just community will win.

Chorus:

*Cruelty and selfishness astound you;

When will we perceive the kindom come?

All the world’s injustices confound you,

We shall overcome working as one.

Chorus:

*alternative words for verse 3 as suggested by Singing the Faith Plus:

Cruelty and selfishness astound you;

Still we will perceive the kin-dom come,

Though the world’s injustices confound you,

We shall overcome working as one.

Note: It is my custom to name my hymn tunes after internment camps and ghost towns where Canadians of Japanese descent were interned during the Second World War. In this way I hope that these historic places and injustices will not be forgotten. Schreiber is a town in northern Ontario where my father was interned to work on the construction of the Trans-Canada highway.