Words & Music: , 1871.

“Some years ago I was in the dark,” a young la­dy of Lon­don told me, “and was seek­ing the Lord day and night; but I could get no rest or peace for my soul. For two or three weeks the ti­tle of ‘There’s a Light in the Val­ley’ kept ring­ing through my ears. I had ne­ver care­ful­ly read through the hymn, but in my con­stant pleadi­ng with the Lord I al­ways begged for this light of the val­ley to be giv­en to me. And one night Christ gave the light I had been ask­ing for. I can­not de­scribe my joy when I could say, ‘There is a light in the val­ley for me.’ I scarce­ly slept that night, for the words would come to me again and again. It is now my priv­i­lege, some­times, to help sing them for others, and then they seem to bring a fresh wave of my Sav­iour’s love to me, as they did on that bless­ed night.”


Through the valley of the shadow I must go,
Where the cold waves of Jordan roll;
But the promise of my Shepherd I will know,
Be the rod and the staff to my soul.
Even now down the valley as I glide,
I can hear my Savior say, “Follow me!”
And with Him I’m not afraid to cross the tide;
There’s a light in the valley for me.

Refrain

There’s a light in the valley,
There’s a light in the valley,
There’s a light in the valley for me,
And no evil will I fear while my Shepherd is so near,
There’s a light in the valley for me.

Now the rolling of the billows I can hear,
As they beat on the turf bound shore;
But the beacon light of love so bright and clear,
Guides my bark, frail and lone, safely over.
I shall find down the valley no alarms,
For my Savior’s blessed smile I can see;
He will bear me in His loving, mighty arms,
There’s a light in the valley for me.

Refrain