(Intro — Distant wind. A staff tapping stone. A heartbeat. A steady voice.) You shall not be afraid... God will not forsake you... Even in the darkness of night... Even in the brightness of day... That ain't just a verse — that's a vow... And I've tested it... (beat drops — slow, warm, like a Shepherd leading through the valley) --- (Verse 1) I've walked through valleys where the shadow don't lift Where the darkness has a voice and it speaks like a gift Telling me I'm nothing, telling me I'm done Telling me the battle's over and I already lost the war But even in the darkness of night When my mind is a prison and I can't find the light I hear a voice that's deeper than the fear Saying, "Son, I'm still here, I never disappeared" You shall not be afraid — that's the command Not a suggestion, not a hope, not a backup plan And I've wrestled with that, I've questioned that line When the panic hit hard and I couldn't find The air in my lungs, the ground under my feet But every single time, He kept me from the deep --- (Pre-Chorus) Even in the brightness of day When the sun hits my face and I still feel the ache Even when everything looks fine on the outside There's a war in my skull that I can't always hide But the Shepherd don't leave when the weather is fair The Shepherd don't run when the wolf is near He stays, He stays, He stays right here --- (Chorus) You shall not be afraid God will not forsake you Even in the darkness of night Even in the brightness of day The Shepherd walks before me The Shepherd walks behind The Shepherd holds my broken soul And calls it by its name I shall not want, I shall not fear The Shepherd of my heart is here --- (Verse 2) "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" But I've wanted plenty — peace, love, a reason to walk on And He gave me what I needed, not what I craved He gave me breath when I wanted the grave He gave me Bry when the world was gray He gave me music when I couldn't pray He gave me a sister who held me tight When the night was long and I couldn't fight Even in the darkness of night He was there when Alex died on the line He was there when the pills didn't work He was there when the blade made its mark in the dirt He was there when the cage became my church He was there when the anger made me worse I didn't see Him then — but looking back Every step I took, He was on the path --- (Pre-Chorus) Even in the brightness of day When the smile is real and the storm feels far away I don't forget who carried me through I don't forget who I belong to The Shepherd don't sleep, the Shepherd don't quit The Shepherd holds the lamb that the world tried to split He stays, He stays, He's still holding it --- (Chorus) You shall not be afraid God will not forsake you Even in the darkness of night Even in the brightness of day The Shepherd walks before me The Shepherd walks behind The Shepherd holds my shattered past And calls me by my name I shall not want, I shall not fear The Shepherd of my heart is here --- (Bridge — Everything drops. Just a heartbeat. A staff tapping. A whisper.) I used to think forsaken meant alone in the dark But forsaken is a promise God never made to my heart He said, "I will never leave you, I will never flee" And I've tested that truth through every tragedy Even when I couldn't feel Him, He was feeling for me Even when I couldn't see Him, He was sealing my seams The Shepherd don't break covenant with His sheep The Shepherd don't lose the ones He promised to keep --- (Final Chorus — Full production. Choir swells. Drums like a heartbeat. Voice unwavering.) You shall not be afraid God will not forsake you Even in the darkness of night Even in the brightness of day The Shepherd walks before me The Shepherd walks behind The Shepherd holds my whole life And calls me by my name I shall not want, I shall not fear The Shepherd of my heart is here The Shepherd of my heart is here --- (Outro — Staff tapping fading. Wind calming. A final, steady whisper.) You shall not be afraid... God will not forsake you... Even in the darkness of night... Even in the brightness of day... That's the Shepherd's vow... And He's never broken it yet... (staff taps once more) (wind fades) (silence)
