Now the Light has Gone Away
Now the light has gone away
The hymn expresses childlike trust in God's protective care during hours of darkness and vulnerability, reflecting Lutheran emphasis on faith in God's providence. It grounds confidence in God's presence through the day's end, connecting evening prayer to the Christian life's journey toward eternal rest.
History & Background
Written by Frances Ridley Havergal in the mid-19th century as a simple evening prayer hymn for children. The hymn first appeared in her collection of children's hymns and has been widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals since its composition.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 285
- Lutheran Service Book — 887
- Lutheran Worship — 503
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 653
Bulletin Note
Written by Frances Ridley Havergal in 1870, this evening prayer hymn distills childlike trust in God's protective care. Its tender theology reflects Luther's emphasis on faith resting in divine providence, not human strength.
Preaching Connection
This hymn deepens a sermon on God's providence by translating the comfort of the Gospel—God's vigilant grace—into the concrete, intimate experience of nighttime rest, transforming our natural human fear of darkness into an act of faith.
Themes
Evening prayer Divine protection Trust in God Rest and peace Childhood innocence