From a star in the sky to a shepherd in the field, the Christmas story is defined by choices. 'A Night Just Like This' invites you to look beyond the manger scene and make a choice of your own. Will you see Him only as a baby, or will you choose to accept Him as the King who gave His life for you?
I do write slow songs, but the fast ones keep breaking through. This song is based on my favourite chapter of the Bible, Romans 8. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and nothing now can separate us from His love.
John Grummitt, Mary Elizabeth Byrne, Eleanor Henrietta Hull
I was singing this hymn devotionally one day when I simply carried on into a chorus because I felt a need to follow up a devotional verse with a chorus that committed me to practical application. I went with it, and this is what I came up with. I subsequently used it at church the following Sunday and it went down very well. Now I just need Chris Tomlin to cover it, and I can retire. In the meantime, you could use it!
We sang the song Oceans in church, a few months after our daughter was stillborn. I used to love that song. I always longed to walk in faith wherever God would lead me. But now I found myself not being able to sing it. What if going wherever He leads would mean I lose another child? I suddenly realized I didn’t trust God anymore. I was shocked.
Some months later I went to a songwriters retreat. In a workshop the leader invited us to write down what bothers us and to give it over to God. After that we asked God what He wanted to show us. I ‘see’ a man on the water. The sea is calm and the sun breaks through, right above the man. We told each other what we received. Then we prayed again and I ‘heared’ a song line from the band Live: ‘Run to the water. I find you there’. I thought it was funny. I’ve always loved Live and God knows that of course. I didn’t know what to do with it, though. ‘Isn’t that man Jesus?’ someone said. I was startled and immediately thought of the song Oceans again. I realised Jesus was inviting me to walk on the water, in the light. I wrestled with what this means exactly. I listened to Oceans again and then the last line hits me: ‘in the presence of my Saviour’. That’s what someone said as well: ‘But Ineke, you don’t walk alone on that water. God is always there.’ It is true. If I honestly look back, I can’t recall a moment I was completely left alone. I was always in the presence of my Saviour. I kneeled down and told God that I don’t dare, but somewhere deep-down want to trust Him. I just didn’t know how. Then I described what I saw in this song. In the months following, I sang it again and again.
Written just before I started the 12 Song Challenge in 2024, this song has been used at Emmanuel Church Durham when we've had times of response to God, seeking to give ourselves to Him, be transformed for His glory and receive back abundant life.